Exhibitions

Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity

Los Angeles, United States

A century of Chinese history told through seventy garments, charting a journey from Qing dynasty robes to mid-century silk silhouettes.

Woman's Dress

Image credit

Woman's Dress (Qipao), China, 1939–40, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Costume Council Acquisition Fund, photo © Museum Associates/ LACMA, by Jonathan Urban

Meet the artist

Jason Wu

The Movement

Fashion

ArtLovers Tip

Pay close attention to the 1930s qipao; its sleek, body-conscious cut represents a pivotal moment when Shanghai fashion became a global symbol of the modern woman.

Exhibition Highlights - What you'll see

This exhibition explores how Chinese and Chinese American women reclaimed their narratives through silk and stitch. Spanning a century of radical social change, these garments reveal a quiet revolution of identity found in the transition from the loose, embroidered robes of the Qing Dynasty to the sharp, form-fitting cheongsams of the 1960s.

You're watching more than seventy historic ensembles arranged on bespoke mannequins by designer Jason Wu. The gallery lighting catches the sheen of intricate trims and vibrant embroideries, turning the space into a vivid timeline where the weight of heavy silk gives way to the modern movement of the 1930s qipao.

Worth the trip

  • A century of style: Witness the physical evolution of Chinese identity through seventy exquisite ensembles rarely displayed together in one space.
  • Modern craftsmanship: See how contemporary designer Jason Wu uses customized mannequins to breathe fresh, sculptural life into these delicate historical textiles.
  • Bicultural narratives: Discover the specific sartorial contributions of Chinese American women, highlighting how fashion served as a vital tool for navigating change.

How to experience it

Walk slowly through the BCAM galleries to appreciate the minute embroidery work that defined the late Qing era before the silhouettes began to streamline. After leaving the museum, drive over to Chinatown for a quiet tea or a walk through the historic Central Plaza to see how these aesthetic legacies still pulse through the city's architecture and daily life.

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