Southern California style is synonymous with the good life. Outdoor activities, beach culture, patio living, Hollywood, and the global marketplace all contribute to the romance and allure of California style.

Swimwear and swimwear-influenced styles are at the center of this world of leisure, travel, and fun. From the vintage classics of the 1930’s to today, swimwear has influenced street wear, sportswear, separates, accessories, and fabric design.

Swingin’ Summer, a collaboration between the FIDM Museum Shop and LA’s Clever Vintage Clothing, pays homage to the influence of swimwear on fashion and culture. Modeling California vintage classics, the ten mannequins in the museum lobby remind us that style—including beach style—is eternal.

This rare poolside set is the result of two noted personalities in the swimwear category, Alfred Shaheen and Rudi Gernreich, who collaborated in 1958. Gernreich started his own line in 1959 and created a sensation with topless bathing suits in 1964. From the collection of Clever Vintage customer, Audrey Moorehead.

The solid wood surfboard, above, was handmade in 1938 by a then 12 year-old Don Scott of Whittier who rode his bicycle to Long Beach to surf. There were very few surfers in California before the post-war period. The men’s matching shirt and swim trunks were sold via the Sears Roebuck catalog some 20 years later. The suit in the middle is by Catalina, which was established in 1928. The set on the right is by Kamehameha Garment Company, founded in Hawaii in 1936, one of the oldest manufactures of Aloha shirts, sarongs, full skirted dresses, sun and swimsuits for export to the mainland.

This early 1950’s Hawaiian honeymoon set takes swimwear styling to the street in “his ‘n her” fashions designed for shopping, dinner, or visiting the many tourist destinations on the islands. Upon returning home, these sets provided the basic wardrobe for many luaus and poolside parties. From the collection of Clever Vintage Clothing.

Swingin’ Summer will be on display in the museum lobby through late July.

Opens July 31st

Costume worn by Barbara Flynn as Mrs. Jamieson in Return to Cranford. Costumes by Jenny Beavan.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the FIDM Museum & Galleries at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising are proud to jointly present The Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design, saluting the work of this year’s Primetime Emmy®-Nominated Costume Designers and Costume Supervisors.

For the sixth year, the guest curator and organizer of this exhibition is noted Costume Designer Mary Rose, the President of the Costume Designers Guild, and an executive board officer of the CDG since 1994. Ms. Rose is the Governor of the Costume Design and Supervision Peer Group of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Mary Rose, President of the Costume Designers Guild, Guest Curator, at the 5th annual Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design exhibition.

Rose, a noted designer for feature films, television/cable series and movies, has been the curator of numerous costume exhibitions in the United States and abroad.

Giving visitors an opportunity to review their favorite TV shows and characters, the exhibition celebrates television costume design and includes more than 75 costumes selected from a variety of television genres: episodic series, movies and mini-series.

Rainbow Fairy sketch from the ABC TV Show Once Upon A Time by Costume Designer Eduardo Castro.

The exhibition will feature costumes from shows such as Downton Abbey, by Costume Designer Susannah Buxton, Once Upon a Time, by Costume Designer Eduardo Castro, Pretty Little Liars, by Costume Designer and FIDM Grad Mandi Line, Smash, by Costume Designer Molly Maginnis, New Girl, by Costume Designer Debra McGuire, Pan Am, by Costume Designer Ane Crabtree, and many more.

The free exhibition runs from July 31–October 20, 2012.