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Guo Pei’s Stunning Gowns Go on Display in Her First U.S. Solo Show

The exhibition will feature more than 30 dazzling pieces

By Hilary Jay
Fall 2017
Intricately designed haute couture garment with elaborate embroidery, crystals, and luxurious fur accents on a mannequin.
One of Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei’s elaborate gowns on display in Atlanta. Photo: Courtesy of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film

Mannequin wearing an intricate gold and red feather gown with ornate detailing on a neutral background.
A handmade gown from Guo Pei’s 2012 Legend of the Dragon collection. Courtesy of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film

Arguably China’s most famous fashion designer, Guo Pei is having a series of firsts: her first solo exhibition, at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, and her first major book, with Rizzoli in November. A haute couturier with a Paris showroom, she has been dressing Chinese celebrities for decades in her opulent handmade gowns. But it was only in 2015, when Rihanna asked Guo to dress her for the annual Met Gala, that she achieved broad recognition in the U.S. That sunflower-yellow satin coronation cape, trimmed in matching fox fur with a 16-foot train and 50 pounds of bas-relief embroidery, will be one of 30 pieces on display at the exhibition, which runs from September 7 to March 4. scadfash.org 

A mannequin wearing a vibrant pink and gold floral gown with intricate patterns and dramatic silhouette.
One of the dramatic dresses on display appears as a cascade of hot-pink roses. Courtesy of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film

Woman in an ornate, layered dress standing in a rustic doorway.
The exhibition will feature more than 30 of the designer’s most iconic pieces. Courtesy of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film

Intricately designed haute couture garment with elaborate embroidery, crystals, and luxurious fur accents on a mannequin.
Guo Pei’s luxurious fabrics and sculptural shapes hint at a bygone era of craftsmanship. Courtesy of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film