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Costumes, Props, Photography, and Ephemera from Two Powerful Films – Till And Women Talking
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If you find yourself on the @FIDM campus, we invit

If you find yourself on the @FIDM campus, we invite you to see this slinky, mint-green silk crepe chiffon evening gown overlaid with iridescent plastic sequins by American designer Roy Halston Frowick (b. April 23, 1932; d. March 26, 1990). The designer was famous for adorning discotheque regulars in the 1970s-80s, setting the bar high for effortless luxury.

With snap closures going down the center front from the lapels to knee-length, the dress could be as sexy or demure as the wearer wished. Complete with two on-seam pockets, this dress left the disco party go-er hands-free for twirling on the dance floor!

The FIDM Museum has 38 examples of Halston’s work in our Permanent, Study, and Special Collections, including garments, accessories, and fragrances; this is our most recent acquisition, donated by a long-time supporter.

Want to see more Halston? Don't forget, you can contact us for research appointments—that goes for students, academics, independent scholars, fashion designers, artists, and more.
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Dress by Halston (Roy Halston Frowick), c.1972
Gift of Thomas Gambrell
2022.1441.1AB
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#halston @halston #70s #1970sfashion #70sfashion #modernfashion #20thcfashion #contemporaryfashion #vintagefashion #vintagestyle #americanfashion #theamericanlook #americandesigner #fashiondesigner #fashiondesign #fidm #fidmstudents #fidmeducation #fidmcollege #fidmmuseum #fashionhistory #fashionmuseum #fashioncollection #museumcollection #fashion #fashionliveshere

Pack your bags: it's #InternationalMuseumDay and w

Pack your bags: it's #InternationalMuseumDay and we're off to India!

In March, our intrepid curator Kevin Jones traveled all the way to Mumbai to install our loans to “India in Fashion: The Impact of Indian Dress and Textiles on the Fashionable Imagination.” Curated by Hamish Bowles and designed by Patrick Kinmonth & architect Rooshad Shroff, the exhibition is the inaugural costume and textile display at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre.

We were honored to send two European womens' ensembles from the 19th century: a paisley printed gauze day dress, and a paisley printed wool wrapper. We also sent two garments made by Rudi Gernreich: a bandhani (tie-dyed) babydoll dress and matching shisha (mirrored) tights, and a caftan from his personal wardrobe which he fashioned out of an embroidered cotton kantha.

“India in Fashion” is now on view through June 4, 2023. If you're able to view it in person, please send us a postcard or snapshot!
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@nmacc.india #indiainfashion #indianfashion @hamishbowles #museumexhibitions #fashionexhibitions #1960sfashion #60s #19thcenturyfashion #romanticera #aestheticdress #19thcfashion #artisticdress #antiquefashion #antiquecostume #rudigernreich #antiquetextiles #vintagefashion #vintagestyle #frenchfashion #fashiondesigner #fashiondesign #fidmmuseum #fashionhistory #fashionmuseum #fashioncollection #museumcollection #fashion #fashionliveshere

A curator in her natural habitat! These photos wer

A curator in her natural habitat! These photos were taken during a "behind the scenes" tour with Associate Curator Christina Johnson. The tour group was a local chapter of the @daughters.of.the.american.rev and Americana was the subject of the day. Swipe to see some of the museum objects she showed off!

📸 1: Denim Jacket by Ralph Lauren, 1990s. Gift of Dorothy Washington Sorensen, 2010.1110.118

📸 2: Dress by Norman Norell, c. 1970. Gift of Mrs. Clarissa Dyer, 2003.794.23AB

📸 3: Man's Frock Coat, c. 1800. FIDM Museum Purchase, 2021.5.1

📸 4: Embroidered Dress, c. 1822. FIDM Museum Purchase, 2021.5.39
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#curators #curatorial #fashioncurators #museumprofessionals #americana #DAR #ralphlauren #normannorell #frockcoat #denimjacket #fidmmuseum #fashionhistory #fashionmuseum #fashioncollection #museumcollection #fashion #fashionliveshere

When you're a work of art, right down to your feet

When you're a work of art, right down to your feet!

With bold color-blocking separated by thin black lines, it's clear these heels were inspired by the work of 20th-century painter Piet Mondrian (see the accompanying image of 'Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow,' @kunsthauszuerich). The biggest difference between these and the artist's output is the inclusion of green—it's a color Mondrian, who worked mostly in this primary palette, felt was "useless"!
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Heels by Andrea Pfister for Neiman Marcus, 1982-1983
Gift of Dorothy Washington Sorensen
2010.1110.376AB
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#modernart #mondrian #20thcenturyart #modernism #mondrianfashion #fashioninart #artinfashion #fashionarts #fidmmuseum #fashionhistory #fashionmuseum #fashioncollection #museumcollection #fashion #fashionliveshere #vintagefashion #vintagestyle #modernfashion #20thcfashion #contemporaryfashion #80s #1980sfashion #80sfashion

Just a touch of rouge for this gent's cheeks for #

Just a touch of rouge for this gent's cheeks for #NationalPhotographyMonth!

An ambrotype is an image fixed on a delicate plate of chemical-treated glass. The image can easily be smudged and scratched, even after development, so a metal mat and cover glass was placed over it and packaged together into a hard case – usually tooled leather over wood—that looks very much like a miniature book. Sometimes, details like rosy cheeks were colored in by hand.
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Ambrotype, c. 1860
FIDM Museum Special Collections
Gift of Steven Porterfield
SC2014.897.18
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#fidmmuseum #fashionhistory #fashionmuseum #fashioncollection #museumcollection #fashion #fashionliveshere #specialcollections #fidmmuseumspecialcollections #fashionphotography #portraitphotography #ambrotypes #ambrotype #photohistory #19thcentury #19thc #1860s #antiquefashion #antiquecostume #menswear #mensfashion #mensgrooming #pictureday

ICYMI: we were on Access Hollywood! This segment

ICYMI: we were on Access Hollywood!

This segment on @accesshollywood was filmed before Ruth E. Carter went on to win her history-making second Oscar award for Costume Design. We were honored she requested to hold the interview in our Art of Costume Design in Film exhibition, right in front of her spectacular work for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. And we were grateful to our industry partners @marvelstudios for facilitating.

Also ICYMI: these are the *FINAL* days to see the exhibition! Our galleries will close at 5pm on Saturday, May 6. And when the doors close, these denizens of Wakanda and Talokan will disappear—as will all the other costumes on display. Don't miss out!
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#ruthecarter @therealruthecarter #wakandaforever #blackpanther #accesshollywood #artofcostumedesigninfilm #hollywoodcostumedesign #academyawards #oscars #oscarawards #theoscars #academyawardwinning #academyawardnominees #academyawardnominated #costumedesigner #costumedesign #filmcostumes #costumes #aocdif2023 #artofcostumedesigninfilm2023 #fidm #fidmeducation #fidmcollege

Cottage core? More like cottage couture! Too bad n

Cottage core? More like cottage couture! Too bad none of the @metcostumeinstitute guests attending the #MetGala last night didn't choose to wear this glorious face-framing chapeau designed by Karl Lagerfeld for Chloé...it's Impressionist business in the front, and straw boater party in the back!
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Straw Hat by Karl Lagerfeld for Chloé, Spring/Summer 1988
FIDM Museum Purchase
2007.5.5
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#karllagerfeld #chloé @chloe #80s #1980sfashion #80sfashion #modernfashion #20thcfashion #contemporaryfashion #vintagefashion #vintagestyle #frenchfashion #frenchcouture #hautecouture #pretaporter #couture #fashiondesigner #fashiondesign #fashionaccessories #boaterhat #strawhat #impressionistpainting #widebrimhat

"Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion" is now on vie

"Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion" is now on view at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image...time to polish those platforms and pumps!

The FIDM Museum is proud to lend three pairs of shoes worn by two of Hollywood's boldest leading ladies of the classic era: Mae West (Images 1-3) and Marlene Dietrich (Image 4).

Through iconic stories, characters and moments from over 120 years of moving image history, "Goddess" celebrates the women who shaped their own roles, took creative control and fought a system that tried to exploit them. Too often reduced to the status of bombshell, starlet, and screen siren, the goddesses selected by the curators transcend stereotypes. Featuring never-before-seen costumes, original sketches, interactive experiences and cinematic treasures—including iconic ensembles worn by #MarleneDietrich, #MaeWest, and #MarilynMonroe—"Goddess" honors the artists who challenged narratives, defied expectations and transcended tropes.

It's hard to imagine Mae West without the swagger of her petite, curvy frame supported by astonishingly elevated platform shoes—displayed nearby are the actresses' footprints, used to create the lasts for these custom shoes, also in our permanent collection. It's equally difficult to separate Marlene Dietrich from her penchant for masculine styles—hence the black formal tuxedo pumps by Delman from our collection in a case adjacent to her cream-colored tux.

"Goddess" is on view through October 1, 2023. We hope some of you will be able to see this vibrant, celebratory exhibition in person!
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@acmionline #filmhistory #goddess #goddesses #iconic #icons #iconsofstyle #actresses #hollywoodhistory #fashionexhibition #artofcostumedesign #bombshell #screensiren #starlet #platforms #platformshoes #tuxedo #masculinefeminine