China: Through the Looking Glass

Organized by The Costume Institute in collaboration with the Department of Asian Art, this exhibition will explore the impact of Chinese aesthetics on Western fashion, and how China has fueled the fashionable imagination for centuries.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
May 7th – Sep 7th 2015
New York, 1000 Fifth AvenueMap
, 'Court Robe,' 19th, century, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Court Robe, 19th, century, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Festival robe worn by Emperor Qianlong,' Second half of 18th-century, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Festival robe worn by Emperor Qianlong, Second half of 18th-century

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Evening dress,' fall/winter 2005–6, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Roberto Cavalli

Evening dress, fall/winter 2005–6

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Dress (John Galliano for House of Dior),' Spring/summer 2003 haute couture, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

John Galliano

Dress (John Galliano for House of Dior), Spring/summer 2003 haute couture

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, '"Quiproquo" cocktail dress (Christian Dior for House of Dior),' 1951, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Christian Dior

"Quiproquo" cocktail dress (Christian Dior for House of Dior), 1951

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Film still from "The Last Emperor",' 1987, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Film still from "The Last Emperor", 1987

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Evening dress,' 1934, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Travis Banton

Evening dress, 1934

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Evening coat,' fall/winter 1977-78 haute couture, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Yves Saint Laurent

Evening coat, fall/winter 1977-78 haute couture

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Cheongsam,' 1932, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Cheongsam, 1932

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Festival Robe (detail),' 19th century-Daoguang (1821–50)–Xianfeng (1851–61) period, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Festival Robe (detail), 19th century-Daoguang (1821–50)–Xianfeng (1851–61) period

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Evening coat,' ca. 1925, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Evening coat, ca. 1925

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Evening dress (Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent),' Fall/winter 2004–5, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Tom Ford

Evening dress (Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent), Fall/winter 2004–5

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Film still from Daughter of the Dragon,' 1931, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Film still from Daughter of the Dragon, 1931

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Film Still from "In the Mood for Love",' 2000, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Film Still from "In the Mood for Love", 2000

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Evening dress (Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Paris),' fall/winter 2004–5, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Tom Ford

Evening dress (Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Paris), fall/winter 2004–5

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Mao,' , The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Andy Warhol

Mao

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Ensemble,' fall/winter 1977-78 haute couture, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Yves Saint Laurent

Ensemble, fall/winter 1977-78 haute couture

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, '19th century rubbing from a 10th century stele describing a sudden illness, a stomach ache,' 19th century (rubbing)-10th century (stele), The Metropolitan Museum of Art

19th century rubbing from a 10th century stele describing a sudden illness, a stomach ache, 19th century (rubbing)-10th century (stele)

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Evening dress,' “Shanghai” collection 2013, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Valentino S.p.A.

Evening dress, “Shanghai” collection 2013

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Dress (John Galliano for House of Dior),' Fall/winter 1997-98, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

John Galliano

Dress (John Galliano for House of Dior), Fall/winter 1997-98

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Evening dress,' Fall/winter 2001-2 haute couture, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jean Paul Gaultier

Evening dress, Fall/winter 2001-2 haute couture

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Oei Huilan (the former Madame Wellington Koo),' 1943, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Horst P. Horst

Oei Huilan (the former Madame Wellington Koo), 1943

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Film still from "Limehouse Blues",' 1934, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Film still from "Limehouse Blues", 1934

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Dress,' spring/summer 1995, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Vivienne Tam

Dress, spring/summer 1995

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, 'Jar with Dragon,' early 15th-century, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jar with Dragon, early 15th-century

"China: Through the Looking Glass" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Follow Artists In This Show

Andy Warhol
Horst P. Horst
Jean Paul Gaultier
John Galliano
Christian Dior
Yves Saint Laurent
Valentino S.p.A.
Roberto Cavalli
Tom Ford
Travis Banton
Vivienne Tam