Abstract: As a part of quintessence of China，cheongsam plays an important role in Chinese traditional costume culture. As the
most typical representative in the development period of cheongsam，the cheongsam in the Republic of China originates from the Manchu banner women's dress，and is also the result of the combination of Chinese and Western clothing. During the period of Republican China when isolation was generally replaced by openness，the evolution of cheongsam was influenced by various factors such as politics，economy and culture. The cheongsam has carried on innovation and transformation in the terms of the shape，the cutting production and the decoration design，etc. The change and development of social customs such as the dilution of the rank concept，the enhancement of the equality consciousness，the advocation of western culture，the emergence of the mercantilist thoughts and so on can be analyzed through the evolution process of cheongsam.

Key words: cheongsam, the period of Republican China , social customs, change