Ossie Clark ensemble, c. 1969
In August 1965, British Vogue featured the designs of Ossie Clark, a recent graduate of London's Royal College of Art. Clark's graduation collection featured the graphic patterns and short shift dresses that were popular in the freewheeling milieu of... Read Article ››

Adolfo hat, c. 1973
Fall is officially here! After the autumnal equinox on September 22, the days get shorter and the nights get longer. Even in Los Angeles, there is sometimes a chilly bite in the air. Naturally, we've got to start dressing for the weather--coats, sweaters,... Read Article ››

Crochet can hat, 1968-1970
We try to approach every object in the FIDM Museum collection with a critical, evaluative eye. But how do you maintain the necessary scholarly distance when confronted with a hat made from beer cans? It's hard not to smile, or at least raise an eyebrow... Read Article ››

Silk chiffon evening dress, 1975
  Evening dress1975Silk chiffon & silk crepeGift of Phyllis WayneS2007.915.1AB Purchased in 1975 at Sak's Fifth Avenue Beverly Hills, this dress was worn by the donor to a family wedding. After the wedding, it was packed away and never worn... Read Article ››

Bonnie Cashin ensemble, c. 1978
  Full disclosure: I'm a big fan of Bonnie Cashin. Though I admire an elegant evening gown as much as anyone, I appreciate Cashin's interest in creating a wardrobe that suited the everyday activities of twentieth-century women. Within this framework,... Read Article ››

1970s Gunne Sax dresses
  Gunne Sax's aesthetic has been described as feminine, nostalgic, Victorian, old world and romantic. Though the brand is now closely associated with formal and bridal wear, its origins date back to late '60s San Francisco. In 1969, San... Read Article ››

Holly’s Harp hand-painted evening gown
  Evening gown Holly's Harp 1974 Gift of Gloria Strasburger 99c.059.09 The sinuous lines of Holly Harp's evening wear hearken back to the form-fitting, bias cut gowns of the 1930s. Her career began in the hippie milieu of late 1960s Los Angeles.... Read Article ››

Plaid platform shoes, c. 1972
  Fashion history is rife with examples of women borrowing from menswear. Bloomers (the nineteenth-century adaption of male trousers), riding habits (adapted from men's riding habits) and the 1980s "power suit" are just a few examples. But... Read Article ››

A-muse-ing Fashions
  Today's post was written by our Assistant Registrar Dani Killam. In her post, Dani explores the interplay between fashion designers and artists in two vibrantly colorful pieces from our collection: an Adrian blouse and a Halston dress. The Halston... Read Article ››

Neck ties
  Neck and bow tie patternSimplicity1945-50Gift of Helen McKenna2006.864.3 The elongated, relatively slim silhouette of the modern neck tie emerged in the mid-nineteenth century. Unlike its predecessor, the cravat, the neck tie didn't require... Read Article ››
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