Date：2025-12-23 - 2026-05-05
Location：The Shanghai Museum on People's Square, Exhibition Gallery (1F)
Organizers：The Shanghai Museum
The Shanghai-style qipao, like a prism traversing time and space, refracts the brilliant radiance of 20th-century China's aesthetic evolution and cultural self-awareness. "Qipao: Glamour and Modernity beyond Shanghai" uses the "Modern Tide" as its warp and "Boundless Aesthetics" as its weft, seeking to explore the profound cultural roots and the magical historical changes behind the garment.
The transformation in qipao's form shows the symbiosis of "creativity" and "inclusiveness". From the subtle modesty of traditional robes to the flowing openness of modern fashion, every cut of the qipao is imprinted with the trajectory of the Chinese women's physical and spiritual liberation. It anchors the stylistic essence of Eastern dress while embodying the creative ingenuity of Western fashion, sketching out the unique, inclusive character of Shanghai-style culture.
The fusion of aesthetics is like an orchestral triumph of cross-disciplinary creation. When the gentle artistic conception of the East encounters the precise tailoring of the West, traditional craftsmanship is revitalized in the tide of the times: Chinese elements shine brightly in the global fashion lexicon through the Shanghai-style qipao, and the integration of international fabrics, exotic patterns, and innovative decorations weaves a new paradigm for mutual learning among civilizations.
Cultural prosperity marks the renaissance of national confidence in the new era. From the graceful allure in Shanghai's lanes to the oriental fashion icon on the global runway, the qipao's transformation is a microcosm of the modernization of Chinese attire. It carries the Chinese efforts of rebuilding cultural confidence and presenting the world with the eternal charm of Eastern wisdom.
The centerpieces of this exhibition come from the cherished collection by Mr. Jeff Chang and the generous donation of Ms. Patricia Pei. Our sincere gratitude is extended to them.
We dedicate this exhibition as an opening note, inviting you to push open the "door of modernity" and wander among "silhouettes of glamour" to get a glimpse of this century-long aesthetic epic woven with needles and threads: to revisit how the Shanghai-style qipao broke boundaries with the rich cultural heritage and transcended borders through its inclusiveness, allowing this quintessential Eastern garment to continue its everlasting glow in the firmament of global fashion.
