Under the influence of Western culture, the style and pattern of cheongsams were significantly transformed during the Republic of China period. Color is sometimes considered as one of the symbols that can represent people’s social background and emotional preferences. The analysis in this paper was based on 414 images of cheongsam patterns from the Republic of China. To begin with, the colors were digitally extracted, and then a rule-based analysis of color style was performed. Finally, the traditional color scheme was re-applied to the new design using the user-friendly 3D virtual design software. For color extraction, the main colors of a single pattern were used as a sample, and then they were combined to provide the overall representative colors. Superpixel-based Fast Fuzzy C-means Clustering (SFFCM) and K-means split-channel clustering algorithms were employed to extract single and multiple pattern colors. In the processing of color images, the original color pixels are simplified efficiently by superpixel segmentation, so the SFFCM provides better segmentation results and takes less time than fuzzy C-mean clustering. The color distribution and silhouette coefficient were used to determine the optimal clustering number. Then the 414 images were clustered separately to extract the corresponding main colors, and a total of 1,725 color values were obtained. It can visually display the color and the proportion of the images by reducing a complicated image to basic numbers, which makes the subsequent analysis and data processing easier. After that, the number of colors was further decreased using K-means clustering to get the most representative color. Based on the HSV non-uniform quantization model, the hue values of 1,725 colors were first divided into eight categories, and then the lightness and saturation values in each category were clustered independently. Finally, they were integrated into 24 representative colors and corresponding color cards. Following the collection of data, the cheongsam patterns were analyzed in terms of both the color style and the color matching rules. The colors were primarily concentrated in yellow and red. Green, cyan, and other cool colors were used in smaller amounts. It can be seen that the costume system was changed at that time, and the use of colors was no longer frowned upon, so people had more freedom in their choices. The cheongsam pattern colors were primarily found in the low-medium saturation, medium-high lightness, and low contrast color regions, which was different from the feudal era when the clothing system mainly emphasized vivid and contrasting colors to express powerful national sentiments. The lightness and saturation of the distribution pattern caused cheongsams to be more simple and elegant in style. Meanwhile, the tonal distribution of cheongsam pattern colors was analyzed with the PCCS system. The values of the S and V channels were divided evenly, and then related to the system to ascertain the color tones and calculate their percentages. The result shows that the cheongsam pattern colors are primarily concentrated in five tones. The most prevalent is light grayish, making up 26.55 % of all colors. Grayish and soft come in second with 19.24% and 16.46%, respectively. In addition, pale and light also account for more than 8%. However, there aren’t many other colors, particularly the bright, vibrant, or others with strong color preferences, which only make up roughly 1% of the total color distribution. On the one hand, the theory of the Western color system progressively influenced people’s aesthetic tastes, and as a result, the neutral color series became the trend for garment during that time. On the other hand, the number of colors and the quality of printed fabrics were both improved concurrently with advancements in textile printing and dyeing technologies. The color matching rules are explored by the Apriori algorithm, and there are 13 two-color and five three-color matching rules discovered with low contrast between or among colors, which has some significance on the recommendation of color schemes. It can create a network of various color combinations by discovering the most representative color co-occurrences, and the method can offer more varied design possibilities based on users’ selection and confidence value. In order to test the effect of recommendations, a long cheongsam was chosen with a standing collar, one-piece sleeves, and slant opening. The style is simple and in line with the general shape of the Republic of China cheongsams, which can more naturally express the color style and design effect. The fabric pattern was incorporated into the cheongsam’s overall appearance by 3D virtual fitting software. The findings demonstrate that the color schemes and tonal collocations correspond to the traditional cheongsams with stable and elegant characteristics. Digital technology helps to analyze color schemes of cheongsam patterns in the Republic of China objectively and achieve design recommendations, which will provide a theoretical guide for re-designing cheongsam patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]