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Hollywood 2010: The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design February 9, 2010-April 17, 2010 Don’t miss the 18th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design exhibition, where you’ll get an up close look at over 100 costumes from last year’s... Read Article ››

Moving a museum collection
Heather Vaughan, of the dress studies blog Worn Through, interviewed our very own Christina Johnson about the process of moving our collection into compact storage. This was a HUGE project that took place over several months in 2008. You can read... Read Article ››

Refashion
As a concept, fashion is based on the appeal of the new. Every season, silhouettes, colors and shapes are re-combined in an effort to create garments of such great appeal that you will replace (or at least supplement) your existing wardrobe. With the... Read Article ››

Mirrorwork embroidery
Though the focus of the FIDM Museum collection is on objects related to Western European and North American dress, we do have a small number of outstanding objects related to the sartorial traditions of other cultures and countries. Many of these objects,... Read Article ››

Balenciaga
Popular conceptions of 1950s dress usually fixate on the defined waist and full skirt of Christian Dior's New Look. Though this silhouette dominated fashion for much of the decade, in 1957 a new shape appeared. Called the sack or chemise, this new dress... Read Article ››

Tailored suit
In the 20th century, the tailored suit became a standard uniform for professional working women. Consisting of a jacket and skirt in matched or closely coordinated fabric, it developed in the late 19th century as an evolution of specialized garments worn for... Read Article ››

Egyptomania
In late 1922, the British archaeologist Howard Carter unearthed and opened the sealed tomb of King Tutankhamun in Luxor, Egypt. Though Egyptian art and ornament had served as a source of artistic inspiration for many centuries, the discovery of King... Read Article ››

Versace’s cowgirl
In 1992, Italian designer Gianni Versace was fascinated with the American West. That year, his collections featured design elements typically associated with the cowboy or cowgirl: boots, fringed leather, jackets with metal tipped lapels and Western motifs.... Read Article ››

Howard Greer
Today's post on Howard Greer was written by costume historian Shelly Foote. From 1994-2004, Shelly worked with the Costume Collection at The National Museum of American History as the Assistant Chair in the Division of Social History. Retired since 2004,... Read Article ››

Polonaise bodice
In 1872, fashion periodicals such as Godey's Lady's Book, Peterson's Magazine and Harper's Bazaar were filled with references to various styles of the polonaise dress. Whether a princess, vest, Russian or dolman polonaise, the common... Read Article ››

Betsy Bloomingdale interview in Vestoj
Check out issue #1 of the new fashion periodical Vestoj: The Journal of Sartorial Matters for an interview with Betsy Bloomingdale about wearing haute couture. Titled “Good Time and Passing Time: A Conversation with Betsy Bloomingdale,” the... Read Article ››

Platform boots
Platform boots1972-73Museum Purchase2006.5.3AB With a heel of about 5 1/2" and a platform sole roughly 3 1/2" thick, these dramatic boots are an extreme example of the platform shoes, sandals and boots popular in the first half of the 1970s. Perhaps even more... Read Article ››
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