(L-R) Silas Chou, Emily Rafferty, Wendi Murdoch, Anna Wintour, Andrew Bolton, Wong Kar wai and Mike Hearn attend The Metropolitan Museum Of Art's "China: Through The Looking Glass" press presentation at Metropolitan Museum of Art on February 16, 2015 in New York City. Andrew Toth/Getty Images/AFP.

NEW YORK, NY.- The Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted a press presentation on Monday, February 16, 2015, in the Museum’s Chinese Galleries to reveal early details about The Costume Institute’s upcoming exhibition China: Through the Looking Glass, opening on May 7. 

Garments are seen on display at The Metropolitan Museum Of Art's "China: Through The Looking Glass" press presentation at Metropolitan Museum of Art on February 16, 2015 in New York City. Photo by Stephen Sullivan

Silas Chou, Wendi Murdoch, Anna Wintour, Wong Kar Wai and Joe Zee joined Museum President Emily K. Rafferty, Costume Institute Curator Andrew Bolton, and Douglas Dillon Chairman of the Department of Asian Art Maxwell K. Hearn in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery for a glimpse at some of the Chinese art and film, as well as high fashion, to be featured in the exhibition, on view May 7–August 16, 2015, at the Met in New York City. 

Garments are seen on display at The Metropolitan Museum Of Art's "China: Through The Looking Glass" press presentation at Metropolitan Museum of Art on February 16, 2015 in New York City. Photo by Stephen Sullivan

This is The Costume Institute’s first collaboration with another curatorial department since AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion in 2006, a partnership with the Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts. China: Through the Looking Glass will feature more than 130 examples of haute couture and avant­garde ready­to­wear alongside masterpieces of Chinese art. Filmic representations of China will be incorporated throughout to reveal how our visions of China are shaped by narratives that draw upon popular culture, and to recognize the importance of cinema as a medium through which we understand the richness of Chinese history. 

Garments are seen on display at The Metropolitan Museum Of Art's "China: Through The Looking Glass" press presentation at Metropolitan Museum of Art on February 16, 2015 in New York City. Andrew Toth/Getty Images/AFP

The Anna Wintour Costume Center’s Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Gallery will present a series of “mirrored reflections” through time and space, focusing on Imperial China; the Republic of China, especially Shanghai in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s; and the People’s Republic of China. These reflections, as well as others in the exhibition, will be illustrated with scenes from films by such groundbreaking Chinese directors as Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Ang Lee, and Wong Kar Wai. Distinct vignettes will be devoted to “women of style,” including Oei Huilan (the former Madame Wellington Koo), Soong May­Ling (Madame Chiang Kai­shek), and Empress Dowager Cixi. 

Garments are seen on display at The Metropolitan Museum Of Art's "China: Through The Looking Glass" press presentation at Metropolitan Museum of Art on February 16, 2015 in New York City. Andrew Toth/Getty Images/AFP

Directly above the Anna Wintour Costume Center, the Chinese Galleries on the second floor will showcase fashion from the 1700s to the present, juxtaposed with decorative arts from Imperial China, including jade, lacquer, cloisonné, and blue­and­white porcelain, mostly drawn from the Met’s collection. The Astor Court will feature a thematic vignette dedicated to Chinese opera, focusing on the celebrated performer Mei Lanfang, who inspired John Galliano’s spring 2003 Christian Dior Haute Couture Collection, ensembles from which will be showcased alongside Mr. Mei’s original opera costumes. 

Designers in the exhibition will include Cristobal Balenciaga, Bulgari, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, Callot Soeurs, Cartier, Roberto Cavalli, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, John Galliano for Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino Garavani, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Picciolo for Valentino, Craig Green, Guo Pei, Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, Charles James, Mary Katrantzou, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Jeanne Lanvin, Ralph Lauren, Judith Leiber, Christian Louboutin, Ma Ke, Mainbocher, Martin Margiela, Alexander McQueen, Alexander McQueen for Givenchy, Edward Molyneux, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Dries van Noten, Jean Patou, Paul Poiret, Yves Saint Laurent, Paul Smith, Vivienne Tam, Isabel Toledo, Giambattista Valli, Vivienne Westwood, Jason Wu, and Laurence Xu.

Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld, 1984. Photo: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Evening coat , c. 1925. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art , Photography © Platon

Gold embroidered red Mangpao, Late Qing dynasty. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Evening Dress, Roberto Cavalli, Fall/Winter 2005-6. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art , Photography © Platon

Vase with Dragon (Chinese ), early 15th century. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art , Photography © Platon

Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford, 2004. Photo: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Film still from 'The Last Emperor ', 1987. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, HELMSDALE FILM CORP . / THE COLLECTION KOBAL

Evening Gown, Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent , Fall/Winter 2004-5. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art , Photography © Platon

Court robe, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), 19th century. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photography © Platon

Ralph Lauren, 2005, Winter Series gown. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Anna May Wong, 'Daughter of the Dragon', 1931. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art @Paramount

Christian Dior, "Quiproquo", cocktail dress, 1951. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

 Zhang Xu, "abdominal pain post". Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

John Galliano for Dior, Winter 1997. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Film "In the Mood for Love", 2000. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art 

John Galliano for Dior autumn/winter 1997, photographer: Nick Knight. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Ms. Gu Weijun Miss Huang Huilan (1943). Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Anna May Wong, "Limehouse Blues", 1934. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Portrait of the Duchess of Windsor. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art