Photo: Courtesy of the Hong Kong Palace Museum

"The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770-1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris" special exhibition kicked off at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) on Wednesday, highlighting fascinating stories about the evolution of fashion in France and the dynamic interplay of cultures that has shaped fashion in France.

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, according to the HKPM.

The exhibition features nearly 400 items including exquisite clothing, jewelry and accessories dating from the late 18th to the early 20th century.

According to the museum, almost all the exhibits are being displayed in Asia for the first time, and some of them have never been seen outside of Paris or France. To protect these precious and delicate exhibits, all objects will return to France after the three-and-half-month-long exhibition in the HKPM.

The opening ceremony for "The Adorned Body" was held at the HKPM on Wednesday. Speakers at the ceremony included Cheuk Wing-hing, acting chief secretary for Administration of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Christile Drulhe, consul general of France in Hong Kong and Macao; Joe Wong Chi-cho, permanent secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism and Dr Louis Ng, museum director of the HKPM. 

Acclaimed singer and fashion icon Karen Mok, who narrates the exhibition's trilingual audio guide, made a special appearance at the ceremony, and shared with the audience stories about this cross-disciplinary project. 

The exhibition opened in Gallery 9 at the HKPM on Wednesday and will run until October 14.

Photo: Courtesy of the Hong Kong Palace Museum