East-west chic

An imminent exhibition in New York reflects the way Chinese style has been embraced and embellished in Western fashion, Chen Jie reports.

Ever since the silk trade between China and the Roman Empire blossomed in the late first and early second centuries, China has been a rich source of inspiration for the West. This year, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will present an exhibition called China: Through the Looking Glass, to explore how China has fueled Western fashion's imagination for centuries, resulting in highly creative adaptations of cultural realities and mythologies.

Presented at the Museum's Chinese Galleries and the Anna Wintour Costume Center from May 7 to Aug 16, the show will feature more than 130 examples of haute couture and ready-to-wear alongside masterpieces of Chinese costumes, paintings, porcelains, and other art, as well as film clips.