Remembering James Galanos
All of us at the FIDM Museum were saddened to learn of James Galanos' passing at the age of 92 over the weekend. The Los Angeles-based couture designer was known for dressing the 20th century's brightest socialites, including Nancy Reagan and Betsy... Read Article ››

The Inimitable Victor Costa
Long before he earned his reputation as "fashion's knock-off king," Victor Costa (b. 1935) created a line of Bohemian-inspired dresses—including this maxi dress wittily woven with hearts, clubs, spades, and diamonds—under the Romantica... Read Article ››

Rhymes With Class
Yesterday, the venerable Bill Blass label was relaunched under the leadership of new creative director Chris Benz. Blass (1922-2002) revolutionized American sportswear, effortlessly blending Hollywood glamour with no-nonsense modernism. He merged... Read Article ››

Something Wicked This Way Comes
With Halloween approaching, these black evening gowns in the FIDM Museum's permanent collection epitomize spooky chic for the stroke of midnight. Traditionally, witches have been portrayed in black, the color of darkness, power, and evil. But black is not... Read Article ››

Merry Pranksters
Today, the word "motley" is a synonym for "mixed" or "heterogeneous." In the 14th century, however, it signified a textile or garment of two or more colors, particularly the clothing worn by jesters. The jester's multicolored... Read Article ››

The French Flair of Pauline Trigère
Born in Paris to a tailor and a dressmaker, Pauline Trigère (1912-2002) was destined for a career in the fashion industry. Her first job was as a trainee cutter for the haute couture house Martial et Armand in the Place Vendôme. But the rise of... Read Article ››

George Halley: From Cows to Couture
Born in Ohio in 1930, George Halley milked cows on his family's farm until he graduated from high school, then hitchhiked to New York to follow his dream of becoming a fashion designer. He began his career as a window dresser at Lord & Taylor; Charles... Read Article ››

Color to the Max
Stephen Burrows (b. 1943) became one of the first African-American fashion designers to achieve international fame when he participated with four other American designers in a fashion show held at the Palace of Versailles in 1973. The landmark... Read Article ››

Made in Hawaii
Alfred Shaheen (1922-2008) singlehandedly elevated Hawaiian shirts from tacky souvenirs to Tiki chic and, in the process, founded the modern Hawaiian fashion industry. Born in New Jersey and raised in Southern California, Shaheen moved to Oahu... Read Article ››

What’s New, Pussycat?
This pussycat bow would not look out of place on Mad Men career girl Peggy Olson–and the style is back in fashion this spring, thanks to Valentino, Rochas, Haider Ackermann, and Emanuel Ungaro. Gucci even showed pussycat bows as... Read Article ››

Summer Whites
Traditionally, white clothing has been reserved for the summer months, between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, we're getting our summer whites out of storage! Marc Bohan for Christian DiorSpring/Summer 1968Gift of Mrs.... Read Article ››

Happy Memorial Day!
This colorblocked dress in patriotic red, white, and blue is by Norman Norell (1900-1972), the so-called "Dean of American Fashion." Norell got his first Seventh Avenue job with designer Hattie Carnegie in 1928. A wholesale... Read Article ››
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