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Mrs. Toucan, Boston Age and Occupation: 25, Full-time Research Assistant, Part-time Graduate Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Actuary Engagement Date: February 18, 2007 Wedding Date: June 7, 2008 Blogging Since: November 07, 2007 Venue: St. Catherine of Genoa, Jin Asian Cuisine Restaurant About Me: I’m a Gemini to the extreme. On one side, I’m a girly girl. I read countless bridal and fashion magazines, and have an obsession with keeping up with the latest Hollywood gossip. On the other side, I’m a sports fanatic. Despite being a full-time bride-to be, full-time research assistant, and part-time student, I’m also a full-time Red Sox fan from spring training to October, and a full-time Patriots fan from mini-camp to February. I devote almost as much time researching my for fantasy football team as researching for our wedding!
About Mrs. Toucan

Business In The Front, Party In The Back

January 9th, 2008 @ 4:53 pm by Mrs. Toucan

MULLETS!!!!!!!!!!

What exactly do mullets have to do with my wedding planning?

Absolutely nothing.

When I thought of the title of the post, I figured this was a good enough excuse as any to make a collage of mullets and glorify them on the ’bee. Why, you ask? Simply put, mullets are funny.

Okay, on to the real reason for the title of the post… my “business in the front, party in the back” qipao!

Huh?!

I’ll explain. While in Hong Kong, my family and I took a side trip to Shenzhen, China to go shopping and have my qipao made. Since I was having the qipao made custom for me, I could do anything (well, almost anything) - the possibilities were endless!

Step One of my custom qipao: Picking a fabric!
I had books upon books of fabric swatches to choose from - gahhh! SO many choices!!! And then, I came across this:

Perfect! I didn’t want a red qipao because I was worried I’d clash with my teal and magenta color scheme, however my parents thought if I didn’t choose red, it wouldn’t look “bridal” enough. This fabric was perfect. It was pink like I wanted, and it was was bridal enough for my parents because the pattern was phoenixes and dragons!! (Miss Canary’s qipao post explains the phoenix and dragon symbolism) So, the fabric was picked! YAY!

Step Two: Picking the qipao design.
I knew I wanted a mostly traditional Chinese looking dress, but I also wanted to add in my own flair. I ended up with what I call, my “business in the front, party in the back” qipao. So without further ado…

Business in the front:

(On my tip-toes because I’m not wearing shoes)

Party in the back:

(I didn’t bother to get up on my tip-toes here, as you can see)

Okay, so maybe my qipao isn’t quite as fun as a mullet… but, it’s backless! And, that’s kinda fun. :) Here are a couple of other shots of the qipao.

A close-up of the standard mandarin collar:

The side view:

(I was having a bad face day, so I kindly cut my face out)

So, there you have it my traditional qipao with an untraditional twist. What do you think?

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50 Responses to “Business In The Front, Party In The Back”

1.
Member Icon
Member
ChicagoSarah (message)  159 posts, Blushing bee

Oooh, sexy! Way to put a modern, personal spin on tradition. I love mandarin collars.

 
2.
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Bee
Mrs. Radish (message)  388 posts, Helper bee

Woo-hoo! You’re certainly bringing sexy back ;)

(sorry… I can’t help but love JT)

 
3.
Miss Toucan
Bee
Miss Toucan (message)  984 posts, Busy bee

well, duh! Why didn’t I make the “sexy back” connection?! Of all things, I chose the mullet angle.. :P

 
4.
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Bee
Miss Jasmine (message)  1,154 posts, Bumble bee

You look hot!!! I love the color and it looks fabulous on you!

 
5.
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Guest
wm

that dress is HOT. i wish i had a reason to buy a qipao like that!

 
6.
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Member
ChicagoSarah (message)  159 posts, Blushing bee

Oh, but I bet it was fun to make the mullet collage… Interesting that Mel makes two appearances!

 
7.
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Guest
Missy Jenn

A backless qipao? That’s awesome (and different!)!! ;-) I love the color.

 
8.
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Guest
cindy

whoa!! my eyes popped when i saw the back. haha. it’s cool that your parents are liberal enough to let you do that with something so traditional. and you’re super tan!

 
9.
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Sarah

You look gorgeous!

 
10.
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Guest
tetleytee

gorgeous! that’s how I’m getting my qipao made, as I had it made (in shenzhen as well) like that for my prom dress and I loved it!

 
11.
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Bee
Miss Canary (message)  636 posts, Busy bee

Hot! I love it Miss Toucan! Yeah I wish I could get away with something sexier but my family is ultra conservative. I love the color too!

 
12.
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Guest
Joanne

ooh so cool! i get to start thinking about what i want for my qi pao soon. i have a few ideas in mind, but i never thought of backless.

 
13.
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Guest
lali

your dress (and you) look stunning!!

 
14.
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Guest
Nstar

Such a gorgeous, sexy dress!

 
15.
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Guest
starjas

I think its awesome. The title is priceless.

 
16.
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Member
erika426 (message)  172 posts, Blushing bee

sexy! you look awesome

 
17.
Mrs. Bee
Bee
Mrs. Bee (message)  3,261 posts, Sugar bee

sexay lady!!!!!

 
18.
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Bee
Mrs. Emerald (message)  901 posts, Busy bee

Oww Ooowwwww! (catcalls) Love that you whited out your face, too funny =)

I would have never thought to do something like that with a twist! Ah well, I couldn’t have pulled it off anyways (my back aint so slim like yours!) and my in-laws would NOT have approved, heh heh.

Chicago Sarah - Mel is only in there once, I swear!
Row 1: Brad, Patrick, John
Row 2: Keifer, Sting, Mel
Row 3: David, Michael, Kevin

haha, can’t believe I listed out the mullet men.

 
19.
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Bee
Mrs. Onion (message)  657 posts, Busy bee

wow — schexy! nice modern spin on a traditional dress. can’t wait to see it on the wedding day.

 
20.
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Member
ChicagoSarah (message)  159 posts, Blushing bee

Aaah, Mrs. Emerald, you’re so right - I mistook Kevin for Mel in Braveheart. Haha!

 
21.
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Bee
Miss Lovebird (message)  693 posts, Busy bee

I love it!!! I’ve never seen a qipao like that before. What kind of bra are you gonna wear with that?

 
22.
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Guest
sanfran

Its nice and modern! but just a kind fyr - pink is traditionally not worn at chinese weddings because it symbolizes “concubine” or “2nd wife”.

 
23.
Miss Toucan
Bee
Miss Toucan (message)  984 posts, Busy bee

yay, thanks for the nice comments! :)

Yes, the mullet collage was fun to make, and it serves a purpose too! I told Mr. Toucan not to read the “mullet post.”

mrs. e, haha, I LOVE that you just listed the mullet men.

sanfran, yikes! I didn’t know! shhh… we’ll just keep that quiet. :) As much as my parents are all for Chinese traditions, I don’t think they actually KNOW all those little details. They just requested I not wear a blue or black qipao. :)

 
24.
Miss Toucan
Bee
Miss Toucan (message)  984 posts, Busy bee

oh miss lb, I missed your comment! For bra, I’ll go with backless stick like Nu Bra.

 
25.
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Guest
aylee

that’s one hot dress and it looks great on you!

i thought the middle guy in the 2nd row was richard dean anderson of macgyver? i love him.

 
26.
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Guest
L

Like cindy and Miss Canary, I’m surprised but also think it way awesome your parents are okay with. I’m going to have to save your pic and see if my parents will be down for it when my time comes…I personally LOVE it though. =)

 
27.
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Guest
L

Gah, I meant to say “…I’m surprised but also think it’s way awesome your parents are okay with it.”

 
28.
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Guest
sanfran

My friend really wanted to wear a pink qipao for her wedding because her colors were pink.. but the ‘rents were strongly against it. Oh well! To each their own! As long as you feel good and sexy in it, go for it!

 
29.
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Guest
ayu

cute dress, and i have to agree with aylee-that totally looks like macgyver.

 
30.
stargazerlily
Member
stargazerlily (message)  946 posts, Busy bee

It IS like a mullet, but much hotter!!! Let me know how that NuBra works out for you, I’ve never tried one!

 
31.
Member Icon
Member
fatafelice (message)  30 posts, Newbee

ROTFLMAO!!! I love any excuse to put up pictures of mullets! ;)

And your qipao is beautiful (much nicer than a mullet)!

 
32.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Bubblegum (message)  143 posts, Blushing bee

Scandalous!!! I love it!!! And the color will look AWESOME with a teal color scheme. Shweeeet.

 
33.
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Guest
mamamiya

haha i like the mullet montage in the beginning. Good correlation between business in the front, and party in the back :D

 
34.
Miss Toucan
Bee
Miss Toucan (message)  984 posts, Busy bee

Oh, I didn’t read the whole mullet identification list. Aylee and ayu, you are correct. It is Macgyver, not Sting.

 
35.
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Guest
Vivian

Whoo hoo! Super Sexy! I LOVE ShenZen! You can get anything made! Love the backless. I didn’t know about the pink either - I really think very few people remember all the old traditions anymore.
My MOH wore a black backless (but it had two straps on the side by your arms (if that makes any sense) qipao. Her parents are super traditional but they were okay with it. You totally rock the dress!

 
36.
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Guest
melbride

that’s exactly like my back of my qipao except that it’s in gold color! I didn’t want to go with the traditional red either since I will leave that for the morning tea ceremony. My qipao is a bit form fitting and I had them add the tail flair at the end. Don’t you just love China! only got it for $40 each for my qipao and my kwa dress for the tea ceremony.

 
37.
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Member
beanchar (message)  549 posts, Busy bee

Love the “qipullet”! And hey… if you’re the first AND second wife AND the concubine, you are pretty much the perfect woman, right?? ;)

 
38.
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Guest
tracie

LOVE IT! I’m hoping to find the same thing. And I was really worried that you somehow DID incorporate mullets in your wedding…you wouldn’t believe the sigh of relief when I read “absolutely nothing.”

 
39.
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Bee
Miss Lovebug (message)  714 posts, Busy bee

I don’t know the first thing about qipaos, but that one looks absolutely lovely. :) Mullet hunters unite!

 
40.
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Bee
Mrs. Emerald (message)  901 posts, Busy bee

Oops… how could I mistake MacGuyver for Sting?! Clearly I’ve never watched MacGuyver, hahaha…

 
41.
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Member
Red (message)  120 posts, Blushing bee

Awesome. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!

 
42.
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Bee
Miss Cherry Blossom (message)  696 posts, Busy bee

hot diggity dog, you look sexay!

 
43.
Guest Icon
Guest
Weddingbee » Blog Archive » 4 Days To A Tux!

[...] from ordering my custom qipao, we also bought Mr. Toucan a custom tuxedo in Shenzhen. My aunt in Hong Kong recommended Cheng Shu [...]

 
44.
Guest Icon
Guest
Weddingbee » Blog Archive » Watercooler

[...] Business In The Front, Party In The Back by Miss Toucan [...]

 
45.
Guest Icon
Guest
Weddingbee » Blog Archive » Outfitting The Bridesmaids

[...] we were in Shenzhen to make my qipao and Mr. Toucan’s tuxedo, we asked the dressmaker who made my qipao if she would also make my [...]

 
46.
Guest Icon
Guest
Miss Peaches

I love this dress! That’s actually similar to how mine is, except higher in the back, with a corset-style back, and a long, Western-style train. You look hot!

 
47.
Guest Icon
Guest
I NEED Another Dress? » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] I thought I had all my outfits for our wedding planned. White wedding dress - Check! Qipao - Check! And, I thought that this would count as my third [...]

 
48.
Guest Icon
Guest
Oh Happy Day: Parent Dances » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] after I had gotten cake down my dress, it was time to change into a new one–my qipao! My qipao was my 3rd outfit of the night (I wore my white wedding gown and qua before). Right after [...]

 
49.
Melissabegins
Member
Melissabegins (message)  843 posts, Busy bee

“bad face day” heheh you are so funny! you look great, white blob and all!

 
50.
Member Icon
Member
Donnadaydream (message)  13 posts, Newbee

love it love it love! really sexy and asian similar to the dress I amy choose as well, high slit at side as well eh! A bit racy but fun and sure to get you noticed
Good on you girl!

 


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Mrs. Toucan Mrs. Toucan, Boston Age and Occupation: 25, Full-time Research Assistant, Part-time Graduate Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Actuary Engagement Date: February 18, 2007 Wedding Date: June 7, 2008 Blogging Since: November 07, 2007 Venue: St. Catherine of Genoa, Jin Asian Cuisine Restaurant About Me: I’m a Gemini to the extreme. On one side, I’m a girly girl. I read countless bridal and fashion magazines, and have an obsession with keeping up with the latest Hollywood gossip. On the other side, I’m a sports fanatic. Despite being a full-time bride-to be, full-time research assistant, and part-time student, I’m also a full-time Red Sox fan from spring training to October, and a full-time Patriots fan from mini-camp to February. I devote almost as much time researching my for fantasy football team as researching for our wedding!
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