A Russian royal costume exhibition has opened in China's largest city of Shanghai, bringing replicas of more than 40 classics of Russian royal fashion in the past three centuries.

The replicas, made by top tailors of today, have copied the original designs, colors and styles of Russian royal costumes in history, said Svetlana Nesterova, a member of Parliament of St. Petersburg, at the opening ceremony of the event on Monday.

She said most Russian royal costumes combined luxury closely with fashion -- two seemingly distinct elements in fashion designing.

Russian Empress Catherine was in fact Russia's "fashion queen", said Alexander Vahmistrov, vice governor of St. Petersburg. "She was a trend-setter across the European continent with her sleeveless dress and headwears."

The costume exhibition is one of the most eye-catching events during the St. Petersburg Week.

During the week, Shanghai TV plans to play a Russian movie featuring a grand royal ball in 1904, an even richer collection of Russia's luxuriant royal costumes.

St. Petersburg is a sister city of Shanghai, and St. Petersburg Week is a highlight of China's Year of Russia.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2006)