Annette Green Fragrance Archive

In addition to our garment collection, the FIDM Museum also houses an extensive fragrance archive. The Annette Green Fragrance Archive was donated to the FIDM Museum by Annette Green in 2005. A leader in the fragrance industry since the 1960s, Annette Green originated the FiFi Award in 1972 and is currently President Emeritus of The Fragrance Foundation. Consisting of bottles, perfume presentations and documentary ephemera dating from the late 1880s to the present, the Archive has its own dedicated exhibition space on the 2nd floor of the Los Angeles branch of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. These exhibitions are always free and open to the public!

Perfumeexhibit2-1

Above is an image of the entrance to the Annette Green Fragrance
Archive. As you can see, the exhibition space is intimate, allowing visitors a close-up
view of the fragrance bottles and their labels. Currently featured is High Style: Perfume and the Haute Couture. This exhibition features fragrances and fashion accessories by well-known haute couture design houses, Christian Dior, Chanel, and Yves Saint Laurent. Also included are fragrances and accessories by James Galanos, Halston, and Oscar de la Renta, well-known American fashion designers whose work exhibits the same standard of quality found in French haute couture. This exhibition is presented in conjunction with our upcoming exhibition High Style: Betsy Bloomingdale and the Haute Couture, which will open on October 21, 2009.

Until you are able to get to FIDM to experience the exhibition for yourself, enjoy these images of items currently on exhibit in the Annette Green Fragrance Archive.

Dior95101

Evening Dress
Label: Christian Dior
Marc Bohan for Dior
Spring/Summer 1989
Anonymous Gift
95.10.1

This dress, with its Grecian silhouette and flowing scarves, might bring to mind the airy garb of a mythical nymph, but the unseen corsetry beneath is very much for mortals. Since Christian Dior introduced the “New Look” in 1947, such built-in understructures have been a sign of the highest quality in haute couture clothing, a tradition continued by his successors, Yves Saint Laurent and Marc Bohan. This, Bohan’s final collection for Dior in Spring/Summer 1989 is no exception.

Dior95101-2Label of 95.10.1

Perfumef2005860747

“Miss Dior” Perfume
Christian
Dior
c. 1947-1950
Gift of Annette
Green
F2005.860.747

Perfumef2005860294ac
“Hypnotic Poison” Eau de Toilette
Christian Dior
c. 1998
Gift of Annette Green
F2005.860.294A/C

After you get a good look at the J’Adore bottle below, revisit this post, which features a John Galliano for Christian Dior necklace with a startlingly similar shape.

Perfumef2005860482ab

“J’Adore” Eau de Parfum
Christian Dior
c. 1999
Gift of Annette Green
F2005.860.482A/B

3 responses to “Annette Green Fragrance Archive

  1. Sonny Ahuja says:

    I have been in perfume industry for over 12 years and never got a chance to see a perfume museum. I get hundreds of requests of perfumes and colognes even today that have been discontinued several years ago. I wish I could see, feel and smell those scents as sometimes we are able to find fragrances similar to the ones discontinued.

    I think every major city should have a fragrance museum or something similar.

  2. I stumbled upon your site while researching a historical costume and – though compleely unrelated – the blue gown above immediately caught my eye.

    Do you happen to have a back view of the blue Dior/Bohan gown, or any info as to who wore it so I could try to find more info?

    It bears a striking resemblance to the currently wildly popular “ice queen” – Elsa from Frozen. I wonder if the blue gown was perhaps a childhood dream dress of one of the animators. If from 1989, that scenario would fit the timeline perfectly. 😉

    I would love to see if the “cape” is attached at the bodice line in back (as Elsa’s is) – a design choice that somewhat baffles me. I never understood why it wasn’t attached at the upper neckline, but if it was based upon a real life inspiration, that odd style choice would make more sense.

  3. FIDM Museum says:

    Hi Jaelyn,

    Yes, you’re right – this truly does resemble Elsa’s gown! The “cape” is actually two separate pieces of fabric attached at the center back top of the bodice above the zipper. The sheer panel in the front does not cover the entire back, as it does on Elsa’s dress. We are happy to send you a photograph of the back; please send an email to studycollection@fidmmuseum.org so we can pass that along.

    Happy researching!

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