Christened "Magnificent Gold," Rihanna's 2015 MET Gala gown, brimming with a 16 foot silken yellow train, exquisite embroidery and thick fur trim stirs a social media sandstorm, prompting memes from "Big Bird" to "poured omelet." Originally created for a 2010 runway collection, the ornate ensemble is the product of 20 months and 50,000 hours at the hand of a solitary artisan. For many, this and the "Danjin" ballgown--a centerpiece at the MET Museum's 2015 Costume Institute exhibit China Through the Looking Glass--is a first encounter with the designer Guo Pei. A year later (2016), the Beijing based couturier becomes the first Chinese member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. Continuing the momentum in 2017, 40 of Pei's most impressive couture creations, associated footwear and accessories are on display in her first solo exhibition, Guo Pei: Couture Beyond. Keep reading for a look inside the exhibit at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta...
