Unfurling the scroll of French fashion history in Hong Kong

HONG KONG — In a dimly lit exhibition hall at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, exquisitely crafted vintage clothing and accessories are illuminated by spotlights, as clips from classic movies play silently in a loop, creating the sense of traveling through time.

Nearly 400 items of French clothing, jewelry, and accessories from the late 18th to the early 20th centuries are on display, telling the story of fashion and attire like a centuries-old scroll.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris have organized a special exhibition, Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewelry 1770-1910 from the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, to chronicle the evolution of French fashion trends.

According to Ingrid Yeung, associate curator of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, French fashion has profoundly influenced the world, and its evolution has been shaped by the integration of multiple cultures.

"A lot of French fashion design was also inspired by Chinese culture," Yeung says, adding that there was clothing, porcelain and scarves on display that draws inspiration from Chinese elements.

"The initial goal of the establishment of the Hong Kong Palace Museum was to promote Chinese culture and facilitate cultural exchange," the Hong Kong museum director Louis Ng says.