Women of all shapes, sizes and ages gracefully showcased ao dai during a fashion show held on October 18 at Hanoi’s Temple of Literature in honor of the traditional Vietnamese gown.

Women of all shapes, sizes and ages in Ao dai. Photo: dantri.com.vn

The free event, Our Ao Dai, celebrated Vietnamese Women's Day and the beauty all women radiate while wearing ao dai. Visitors who wore ao dai were given lotuses from the southern province of Dong Thap.

Veteran and emerging designers from across the country showed off 300 dresses in their latest collections. The 17 designers exhibiting their work included veterans like Minh Hanh and Lan Huong, and younger clothing artists like Quang Nhat and Ngoc Han. Diego Cortizas of Spain, owner of the Chula brand, also joined them.

Many designers found inspiration in the lotus, a flower they believed symbolises the beauty, elegance and tolerance of Vietnamese women.

In different materials, they also depicted Hanoi through images of architecture, daisy of autumn, night life and the Old Quarter.

The event drew participation of 50 professional models, 20 middle-age models and 50 children. All of them volunteered to perform, no reward, as they wanted to join hands to pervade beauty of Vietnam's traditional costume, said director Quang Tu.

Music by pianist Pho An My, band Co La and singer Le Cat Trong Ly accompanied the fashion show.

During the festival, 40 children living in Hanoi dressed in ao dai and painted pictures of the capital, which were then displayed at the Temple of Literature.

Designer Ngoc Han said that though this is not the first time she has designed ao dai, it is a special project for her because she grew up in Hanoi.

She said her collection was inspired by the Temple of Literature, a solemn historical site in the heart of the capital. She combines images of Hanoi like Tortoise Tower and Sword Lake with lotus flowers. "I feel excited and highly enthusiastic in my work, as the collection is created for a special occasion: celebrating Vietnamese Women's Day. Seeing women in ao dai, I always have a feeling that they are elegantly beautiful," she said. "I believe that after the fashion show, all women in different ages and stature should be more confident to wear ao dai".

Source: VNA