Cover Hong Kong singer Karen Mok at ‘The Adorned Body’ (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
Hong Kong singer Karen Mok at ‘The Adorned Body’ (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
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More than 300 French fashion artefacts are now on display at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, including ancient underwear, famous jewellery pieces and a dress designed by ‘the father of haute couture’
For the first time in Asia, the largest collection of historical fashionwear from Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris is now being displayed at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the exhibition The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770–1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris (The Adorned Body).
Running until October 14, 2024, The Adorned Body features more than 300 pieces including dresses, costumes, jewellery and accessories from between the 18th and the 20th centuries, which cast an influence on style trends today in France and China. Highlights include a period-defining dress designed by “father of haute couture” Charles Frederick Worth (1825-1895), an English designer who founded the House of Worth, one of the foremost fashion houses of the 19th and early 20th centuries that revolutionised the fashion business; and a necklace owned by Baroness Charlotte de Rothschild (1825-1899), a socialite known for her artistic pursuits and charity work.
Above A silk dress (about 1855–1858) (Photo: courtesy of Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris and Jean Tholance)
Above A silk dressing gown (circa 1830–1840) (Photo: courtesy of Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris and Jean Tholance)
A silk dress (about 1855–1858) (Photo: courtesy of Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris and Jean Tholance)
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The selection was made by the exhibition’s two curators, Denis Bruna, Musée des Arts Décoratifs’s head curator of fashion and textiles department, pre-1800 collections; and Mathieu Rousset-Perrier, the heritage curator of Middle Ages, Renaissance, jewellery collections.
“They didn’t just want to show masterpieces, but pieces that trace the history of women’s and men’s appearance from the 18th to the early 20th centuries, from the most luxurious to the simplest,” says Christine Macel, the director of Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
Many of the exhibits have never left Musée des Arts Décoratifs. “Some of them are extremely fragile and rare and [had] hardly ever [been] presented to a French or international audience,” says Macel. “This is also why this exhibition cannot be presented in any other museum. Thanks to [the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s] innovative architecture [and] the most recent technical innovations in terms of conservation and presentation, [we can] invent together an exceptional specific setting for works that never leave the museum’s spaces in Paris.”
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A brooch made of white gold, diamond and pearls (late 19th century) (Photo: courtesy of Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris and Jean Tholance)
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This collaboration between a French institute and a Hong Kong museum, with a focus on Chinese-themed exhibitions, didn’t happen by chance. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, and the exhibition is one of the celebrations of the occasion.
From a cultural point of view, the exhibition is also meant to highlight how French fashion has had an influence on Asia, and vice versa. “Trade between Europe and Asia has always been fruitful. In the 18th century, Chinese silks, Indian shawls and pajamas, and later Japanese kimonos, were highly sought after by westerners; all were luxury goods. Today, European fashion, and French fashion in particular, is very popular with Asians,” says Macel.
Such cultural exchanges remains palpable in contemporary times. Hong Kong singer and fashion icon Karen Mok, who was invited to record an audio guide for a selection of items at The Adorned Body, says French fashion significantly influences her style.
“I have worn many French designs in my concerts, including my recent one at The Bird’s Nest in Beijing,” she says. “I admire French fashion for its beautiful style, refinement and elegance.” Other times, Mok makes the effort to wear modern qipao “to showcase the unique charm of Chinese elegance”, like at her recent attendance at Paris fashion week.
Above Hong Kong singer Karen Mok at ‘The Adorned Body’ (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
Hong Kong singer Karen Mok at ‘The Adorned Body’ (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
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“France has been the world’s fashion capital for a very long time,” Mok continues. She observes that in recent years, there are Hong Kong-based designers and fashion labels that take inspiration from French aesthetics.
She adds, “You can [also] see from this exhibition that the influence of French fashion still resonates today, and is the source of inspiration for many contemporary designers. This exhibition provides Hong Kong and global audiences a unique opportunity to delve into the evolution, cultural significance and enduring influence of French fashion, and how it has shaped global style. I can’t wait for the public to see for themselves and be inspired by the collection.”
Credits
Photography Assistant: Carlos Hui
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
