Sau Lee
Established · $400-$700 · Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China
Cheongsam-inspired evening gowns and party dresses with hand-tied pipa knots, Hong Kong heritage meets modern drama.
Think: East-meets-West, cheongsam inspired, evening wear.
The buy: the pipa-knot cheongsam
What to buy
the pipa-knot cheongsam
Categories
Occasions
Why Sau Lee is worth it
Sau Lee turns the cheongsam into sensual modern occasionwear, with mandarin collars, hand-tied pipa knots and boned bodices that make the dress the event.
Chinese design codes are the starting point: a high collar turns into a sculpted neckline, knotted buttons become the focal detail, and cheongsam lines are recut into minis, gowns and corseted dresses. Rich jacquard, shimmering brocade, lace and printed chiffon give the pieces weight and colour, and most are fully lined and non-stretch, so they hold a crisp, tailored shape.
Sau Lee picks
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About Sau Lee
Cheryl Leung founded Sau Lee in Hong Kong in 2014. Working with Western luxury houses as they opened in mainland China, she saw that Chinese design rarely got the same prestige, and set out to build a label that would.
It became known for modern cheongsam silhouettes: occasion dresses and gowns built around mandarin collars and pipa-knot buttons, sensual in cut and rooted in heritage.
- Founded
- 2014
- Founded by
- Cheryl Leung
- Based in
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Made of
- Mostly polyester jacquard, satin, lace and chiffon, plus cotton-blend brocade
- Shipping
- Ships worldwide; US orders ship within the US, free over $300 or a $30 flat rate below, so no import duties apply.
- Where to buy
- Sau Lee's own site · Our Sau Lee picks
What shoppers say
From reviews and try-on videos, in our words.
- Fit
Sizes run US 00 to 14. The brand lists most styles as true to size and says to take the smaller size if you're between two; renters find boned, corseted bodices and built-in cups can run small, so size up if you're fuller in the bust.
- Fabric and care
Most pieces are polyester jacquard, satin or lace, with some cotton-blend brocade, fully lined and non-stretch. Care is a gentle hand wash or dry clean.
- Shipping
US orders ship from within the US: free over $300, or a $30 flat rate below, arriving in about three to five business days, with an express option. Because they don't cross a border, there are no import duties.
- Returns
Full-price pieces can be returned or exchanged once within 14 days of delivery; mailed US returns carry a $25 fee. Discounted pieces get store credit or one size exchange, and final-sale pieces can't come back.
- Demand
Its gowns are a popular rental for black-tie weddings, a good sign of how often they get worn to big occasions.
What Sau Lee is made of
Polyester-led
- Natural
- 17%
- Plant-based
- 13%
- Synthetic
- 70%
Works most in: polyester and cotton
From the fabric listed on 176 pieces · 99% of the range lists it · Checked October 2026
Sau Lee in our edits
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Sau Lee, answered
- What is Sau Lee?
- Sau Lee is a Hong Kong label making cheongsam-inspired occasion dresses and gowns, with mandarin collars, pipa-knot buttons and corseted bodices.
- Is Sau Lee a good brand?
- Yes. We like it for occasionwear with a real point of view: modern cheongsam shapes, rich jacquard and brocade, fully lined construction and details like hand-tied pipa knots.
- Who founded Sau Lee?
- Cheryl Leung founded Sau Lee in 2014.
- Where is Sau Lee from?
- Sau Lee is from Hong Kong.
- Does Sau Lee run true to size?
- Mostly, says the brand, which suggests the smaller size if you're between two. Renters find structured, boned bodices can run small, so check each dress's fit notes.
- Does Sau Lee ship to the US?
- Yes. US orders ship from within the US, free over $300 or a $30 flat rate below, so there are no import duties to pay.
- Where can I buy Sau Lee?
- On the brand's own site, or through our Sau Lee picks.
- What is Sau Lee made of?
- Across the 176 Sau Lee pieces we could read in October 2026, about 17% of the fabric is natural fibers, 13% plant-based fibers like viscose and 70% synthetic. The most common fabrics are polyester and cotton.
- Which brands are like Sau Lee?
- If you like Sau Lee, look at Ronny Kobo, Cinq à Sept, Kim Shui and Misha.