Looking East

In case you don’t recall, at this year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the May 4 Costume Institute Benefit Gala, Rihanna was queen of China. I never paid attention to this red carpet event, probably not until I started attending the Costume Institute exhibits three years ago when my daughter moved to New York City. I say Rhianna was looking east for her fashion inspiration for this year’s Met Costume Ball’s Exhibit China: Through the Looking Glass.

NEW YORK, NY - Guo Pei Gown. A view of atmosphere at "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala - Press Preview at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – An awe-inspiring Guo Pei gown embroidered with gold and silver silk is displayed amid ancient Buddha figurines. A view of the atmosphere at “China: Through The Looking Glass” Costume Institute Benefit Gala – Press Preview at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

My wow factor for this year’s exhibit was the gown by Chinese couture designer Guo Pei.  I give Rihanna an A+ for doing her homework to attend the ball with an authentic china gown by Guo Pei.  The dramatic canary yellow cape gown with fox fur took over 24 months to construct and weighed about 55 pounds.

Rhianna at the 2015 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Ball.
Rhianna at the 2015 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Ball.

The Beijing-based Pei is best known for the 2008 Summer Olympics dress Song Zuying wore during her duet with Plácido Domingo at the closing ceremony and now for Rihanna’s trailing yellow ballgown on the 2015 Met Gala red carpet.

On the runway in 2010. Photo: China Photos/Getty Images.
On the runway in 2010. The same gown Rihanna requested to wear for the Met Gala.  Photo: China Photos/Getty Images.

The expansive exhibit sprawled across three floors, intertwined with the exploration of the centuries-old rich history and culture of China. This Chinese-theme fashion exhibition is the most visited ever at the New York Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute, smashing the record set by the McQueen show in 2011. The exhibit was so popular that it was extended to Labor Day, Monday, September 7, and it was supposed to end on August 16, 2015.

Exhibit Highlights (too many to capture, but these are my faves) of China: Through the Looking Glass

Inspired by Blue Willow China pattern, A dress by Li Xiaofeng. Photograph: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images
The Weight of the Millennium, 2015, by Chinese artist Li Xiaofeng, is made of shards of blue-and-white porcelain. Photograph: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images
A gown by Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, 2004
A gown by Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, 2004.
A Givenchy dress on display. Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art
A Givenchy dress on display. Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art
Mannequins stand on either side of a pair of 1760 British chinoiserie mirrors: One wears a voluminous 18th-century brocade robe à la polonaise, while the other sports John Galliano's similarly shaped 2003 rendition for Dior. Meanwhile in the background, a clip from Vicente Minelli's 1946 film Ziegfeld Follies shows Fred Astaire as a Chinese laborer.
Mannequins stand on either side of a pair of 1760 British chinoiserie mirrors: One wears a voluminous 18th-century brocade robe à la polonaise, while the other sports John Galliano’s similarly shaped 2003 rendition for Dior. Meanwhile in the background, a clip from Vicente Minelli’s 1946 film Ziegfeld Follies shows Fred Astaire as a Chinese laborer.
Perfume bottles on display in "China: Through the Looking Glass" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Lia Chang
Perfume bottles are on display in “China: Through the Looking Glass” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Lia Chang. Does anyone remember the spicy Oriental perfume Opium created by YSL?
Yves Saint Laurent Jacket, 1977 Black ciré embroidered with gold, black and white silk, and gold sequins. Courtesy of Foundation Pierre Bergé - Yyes Saint Laurent, Paris. Photo: Lia Chang
Yves Saint Laurent Jacket, 1977 Black ciré embroidered with gold, black and white silk, and gold sequins. Courtesy of Foundation Pierre Bergé – Yyes Saint Laurent, Paris. Photo: Lia Chang
Brief focus on the People's Republic of China with plain clothing and Mao suit. Photo: Getty
Brief focus on the People’s Republic of China with plain clothing and Mao suit. We see military influence in fashion now. Photo: Getty

One of the most fascinating parts of the exhibit was the amazing number of people walking through the 30,000 square feet of museum space dedicated to China. This showcase of China was the biggest display ever presented by the Anna Wintour Costume Institute. It is my understanding that the museum stayed open until midnight over Labor Day weekend to accommodate those who did not want to miss out on this spectacular event.

Holding Warby Parker Clark Blue marble eyeglass frames at The Metropolitan Museum of Art China: Through the Looking Glass exhibit.
Holding Warby Parker Clark Blue marble eyeglass frames at The Metropolitan Museum of Art China: Through the Looking Glass exhibit.

I hope you enjoyed looking east at the celebration of Chinese fashion and influence exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s China:  Through the Looking Glass Through My Eyes.

Have a fabulous week!

eugenia_siggy