The iconic qipao celebrates its distinct fashion culture

"Each of these garments has a background story. They look elegant and graceful, or avant-garde ...although they stand quietly in the exhibition, I think each of them tells its story to the viewer," he said.

Socialite Chiang, whose garments were also donated to the exhibition, is the daughter of a Chinese diplomat and the wife of banker Tsuyee Pei (1893-1982) from Shanghai. The family moved to the United States in the 1940s. Chiang died in Manhattan, New York, at the age of 104.

"My mother grew up in an environment shaped by the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures,"Patricia Pei says. "Living through a century in both traditional Chinese and global design, she developed a unique perspective and her own sense of style.

"By donating her clothing and personal effects to the Shanghai Museum, we can preserve her legacy. I hope that her intuitive understanding of fashion and her insights into East-West design are brought to life in the exhibition."