The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 
Hong Kong Palace Museum
June 26 – October 14, 2024

The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) joined with the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris today to unveil the new special exhibition “The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770–1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris” (“The Adorned Body”). As one of the four major exhibitions in the West Kowloon Cultural District in 2024 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, “The Adorned Body” marks the first time the prestigious Paris museum’s comprehensive collection of historical French fashionwear is displayed in Asia. The exhibition features nearly 400 stunning items of clothing, pieces of jewellery, and accessories dating from the late 18th to the early 20th century.

This exhibition is the debut of the prestigious Paris Museum’s most comprehensive collection of historical French fashion in Asia, with the HKPM being the first exhibition venue to showcase nearly 400 exquisite pieces from the collection. The exhibition highlights fascinating stories about the evolution of fashion in France and the dynamic interplay of cultures that has shaped fashion in France. Almost all the exhibits are displayed in Asia for the first time, and some of them have never been seen outside of Paris or France.

Fascinating stories about the evolution of fashion in France: 

“Court Splendour (1770–1790)” presents the ways French aristocrats used costumes, jewellery, and accessories to assert their rank and social standing.

“Sense and Sensibility (1810–1830)” introduces the fashions created under the influence of Neoclassicism and Romanticism.

“Tradition and Innovation (1850–1860)” explores the impact that new technologies had on fashion trends, as well as the renewal of traditional styles.

“The Birth of Luxury (1880)” features an evening gown by Charles Frederick Worth, often credited as the father of haute couture.

“The Belle Epoque (1890–1910)” presents some of the most dazzling designs from this spectacular chapter in Europe’s Golden Age. 

On display are some of the most representative historical costumes from specific time periods, illustrating the many social, cultural, and technological factors that affected the evolution of fashion. As seen in each section, the male and female silhouettes were created as much with dresses and suits as with undergarments, such as the corset and crinoline. An 18th-century indoor jacket worn by an aristocratic man tells important stories about the global network of trade and cultural exchanges between China and France: the jacket was made of French silk inspired by prized silk textiles created in China. 

more. www.hkpm.org.hk