Chapter 25 1. Clothing

The young Soong Meiling, like all Chinese children, was at the disposal of her parents when she ate and dressed.Soong Meiling, who looks like a "little lantern", wears "cat shoes" and wears a thick padded jacket. It is not so much the image of a rich businessman in Shanghai as the true epitome of almost all children in old China. In the old days, it was a typical Chinese children's babydoll. However, she soon had a choice of her own. "Little lanterns" grow fast, and their clothes become smaller day by day, and they have to be replaced every two or three months.Mother brought a big flower gown.She yelled: "I don't want to wear a floral dress, I want to wear something like my brother's."

Her elder brother Ziwen was only two years older than her, and he wore a lot of clothes, so he found one at random and it fit her well. Mother also let her. Looking at the little girl wearing the clothes she once wore, she looks like a tomboy.Song Ziwen mocked her and said, "You little satan lamb, you are so naughty in boy's clothes!" In the eyes of her elder brother, Xiao Meiling is a little naughty. However, in the eyes of her parents, she will always be a little princess.A little princess should dress like a little princess. Especially after she went to the United States to study abroad.

Because it was beyond her control at this time. When Meiling went to the United States to settle in Portwen, she received a package from China, which contained colorful and beautiful clothes for her.The black silk dress and the black silk trousers embroidered with the blue dragon pattern are hints from your parents: You are a Chinese girl!At the same time, it is also to show friends in foreign countries that our daughter is a Chinese girl. Do as the Romans do.During this period, Song Meiling always dressed as an American student most of the time or whenever she was in front of the public—wearing sturdy American shoes, American shirts and American skirts.

She is also ingenious when she has a whim, often embellishing her baggy short coat or jacket with some bright silk.Or when she was alone with her second sister, she simply put on a Chinese cheongsam, even though sometimes unexpected visits by American children caught them off guard and they had to immediately go into the closet and change into a suit. What's more interesting is that she sometimes deliberately dresses herself as neither Chinese nor Western.For example, when she participates in sports activities, she wears a sailor collar blouse and a pair of knee-length brocade bloomers.Although neither fish nor fowl, but unique style.

This kind of dress, when she returned to China after studying and walked down the high escalator of the ocean liner, what she showed to the people of the country and her family was a talented woman who was completely dressed in the same way, with a bit of arrogance, and a very energetic and chic "...A pair of black sandals with a bow tie on her slender feet, sky blue socks woven with red wedge-shaped patterns. The short red skirt is rolled with blue edges, and the lace of several petticoats is slightly exposed under the skirt, Each petticoat was a different colour. A little white apron, a black velvet waistcoat trimmed with silver. A little coat of black velvet. The breast was left open. A snow-white shirt with little pleats and a shining star. Bright buttons closed the neckline. She wore a golden round hat with white lace on the brim, and two red ribbons on the back of the hat, indicating her identity as a girl."

This habit of wearing Western-style clothing made her feel that Chinese-style clothing was a bit weird for a long time when she returned to China.She is said to be the first Chinese woman who claims to wear a jacket and slacks in public.For this reason, people once aroused a lot of discussion, saying that she was "out of style" and that she was "not like a lady".However, Song Meiling ignored these things and went her own way, and she didn't mind anyone's comments.She can do what she wants and dress up as she pleases. People are constantly changing. After returning to China, Song Meiling joined the Shanghai Young Women's Christian Association.This is a charitable organization.Through the activities of this organization, she has some understanding of the lives of child laborers in China, and she is especially concerned about the miserable fate of child laborers who are malnourished and physically exhausted.Since then, she has been inspired to devote her time and energy to engaging in social activities.

Song Meiling soon became a public figure in the society and an active member of the social circles of Shanghai's upper class.Some sources describe her like this: "She is beautiful, elegant and generous, and has money to dress up. Therefore,...she has become a figure like the stars." "She has a face like a flower and jade, with long black wavy hair; she wears exquisitely decorated clothes and a gold cap with lace. She is a charming and high-spirited beauty." People change more with changes in society and changes in their own status.Because people are social beings.

After she became the first lady, and experienced the great historical changes of the Anti-Japanese War and the national crisis, Soong Meiling was no longer an ordinary public figure. Every move she made would attract social attention.At this time, Song Meiling's image was generally "cloth robes and light clothes" and "no jewelry".Her personal secretary described it in the book "Life by Soong Meiling's side": "Song Meiling's hair is generally combed to the back of the head, and a big hairpin is tied up. A qipao made of indanthrene cloth is only 80% new; Leather shoes, ordinary stockings, no jewelry..."

So much so that when people first came into contact with her, they thought she was an ordinary employee.People, no matter rich or poor, can only dress up in extraordinary times: ——When she was comforting the anti-Japanese soldiers on the front line, she "wearing a helmet and leggings in military uniform" was on the front line; ——When she inspected the child care home At that time, it was "short-sleeved indanthrene cloth long skirt cheongsam, flat cloth shoes, and ordinary silk stockings." Guo Moruo, who was the head of the third department of the National Government at the time, praised Soong Meiling in such a grand way: "Simple and plain, it is the traditional virtue of our nation... Our first lady of the Republic of China, Mrs. Jiang, wore a cheongsam made of indanthrem cloth. , full cloth shoes. This is unique among the wives of heads of state in the world today."

It is precisely because of her special status that Song Meiling's dress represents the national character and national style.Under special circumstances, Soong Meiling not only deeply understands this point, but also strives to do better: ——In order to comfort the Soviet Air Force Volunteer Brigade supporting China’s War of Resistance, “Song Meiling specially combed a beautiful hairstyle with a bird’s nest and phoenix wings, and also matched it Two tufts of bright and generous golden flower press hair. Shallow collar, long swing, high-slit tight-fitting cheongsam, sleeves less than two inches long, and exquisitely embroidered hibiscus on the chest. The earrings are decorated with blue pearls. Clip-on earrings."

A brand new Song Meiling. ——In order to accompany Chiang Kai-shek to participate in diplomatic activities, "Song Meiling wore a white dress like the Queen of England. The long skirt is ground-length, with tight sleeves reaching to the wrist, and white silk gloves. " A graceful and luxurious Song Meiling with all manners. ——When Soong Meiling was on a mission to the United States and delivered a speech to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, "she was wearing a black gold velvet cheongsam with a Chinese Air Force badge inlaid with gemstones on her chest." A Song Meiling who is more noble, elegant and vigorous. However, her mentality is always that of a commoner, or she has been trying to put herself in the position of a commoner: ——she is like a middle school student at a sports meeting, "wearing a short-sleeved white shirt, blue sports trousers, and flat leather shoes .” ——Just like her subordinates, she took off her socks, rolled up her trouser legs, and fished in the water with bare feet, causing those subordinates to yell: "I am so lucky today, I saw the barefoot fairy Mrs. Jiang with my own eyes." ... Of course, Song Meiling’s wedding dress is undeniably extravagant: “Meiling is wearing a long white dress with silver-white georgette, and the veil is pinned with a branch of orange blossom, which is slightly turned to one side. The white dress decorated with silver silk The soft satin dress is long behind her, like a white swan out of the water, and the silver leather shoes can be seen through the gauze skirt. Her black hair is hidden in the veil of white Chantilly peach blossom, which hangs down to her shoulders , forming a second veil." A grand wedding, a splendid event.After all, Song Meiling is the incomparably beautiful Song Meiling.