The Metropolitan Museum of Art opened their new exhibit China: Through the Looking Glass to the public on May 7th, after a glitzy, celebrity filled, kick-off with the Met Gala three days earlier. The exhibit, organized by the Costume Institute and in collaboration with the Met’s department of Asian art, explores the ways in which European and Western designers have been influenced by Chinese culture. The exhibit also includes traditional Chinese costumes, porcelain works, artwork and films, to paint a greater picture of the influence of Chinese culture throughout history.
At the Met Gala kick-off, celebrities and New York’s elite came out wearing their interpretation of garments with a Chinese influence. Chair of the event Anna Wintour donned a red poppy-encrusted Chanel haute couture gown, while Kim Kardashian and Beyonce both opted for bedazzling see-through gowns. The standouts, though, were Rihanna, in an embroidered yellow Guo Pei dress with a ten-foot train that took three people to carry and reportedly more than two years to create, and Sarah Jessica Parker, who wore a gown created by H&M and a Chinese-inspired headpiece designed by legendary milliner Philip Treacy. The $25,000-a-ticket event included dinner, tours of the exhibit, and a performance by Rihanna.
Inside the redecorated Anna Wintour Costume Center (previously known as the Costume Institute) visitors will find more than one hundred haute couture and avant-garde looks. The center, which was redesigned last year, is equipped with state of art sound and video technology to give viewers up close views of the clothes. Designers of the clothes include Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, John Galliano, Valentino, and Roberto Cavalli.
The exhibit will run from May 7th to August 16th.
Taylor is a journalism + design junior from Florida.
