Fashion Birthday: Patrick Kelly
  Happy birthday to Patrick Kelly, born on September 24, 1954! This button-embellished ensemble is a wonderful example of Kelly's exuberant, playful aesthetic. Using a riot of mismatched buttons, Kelly transformed a simple wool sheath into a... Read Article ››

Norma Kamali fringe suit, 1986
  SuitNorma Kamali1986Gift of Liz Mazurski2012.1142.71AB Norma Kamali's fringed two-piece suit is a challenging, slightly eccentric, take on 1980s power dressing. During the 1980s, bland, tailored skirt suits defined women's professional dress.... Read Article ››

Betsey Johnson sweater, 1983-84
Is it a sweater or is it a dress? A sweater dress? For the fan of Betsey Johnson's playful, eye-catching designs, this question would be of little concern. According to the designer herself, people who wear Betsey Johnson, "don't get stuck in... Read Article ››

Bubble silhouette, 1958-59
  Cocktail dress 1958-59 Gift of Steven Porterfield S2007.897.8 In March 1958, Vogue lauded the new variety in fashionable silhouettes: "a whole lovely flight of new forms--winged, floating, or held slightly away from the body in some... Read Article ››

Chains of Chanel
  Gilt chains are a recurring visual theme in the Chanel lexicon. Beginning in the 1920s, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel promoted costume jewelry as an alternative to jewelry made of gold and studded with pearls and precious stones. Chanel didn't just... Read Article ››

Donna Karan and Robert Lee Morris
  Donna Karan's first solo collection, presented in spring 1985, was an immediate success. According to a fashion editor who attended the presentation, "pandemonium broke loose after the last three models appeared."1 Consisting of layered,... Read Article ››

Thierry Mugler jellies
  Remember jellies? Brightly colored, glossy plastic jelly shoes, usually shortened to jellies, were a 1980s fad. Made from injection molded plastic, jellies were available in a rainbow of colors and often had a textured (braided, ridged, etc.) surface.... Read Article ››

Dressing for a royal wedding
  If you've been following media reports regarding the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William, this advice will sound familiar. For women attending a royal wedding, "hats are required, and there will be lots of big brims and fitted... Read Article ››

Mary McFadden
  If you read our recent post on Mariano Fortuny, this dress may look somewhat familiar. Slim, columnar and featuring narrow pleats, this Mary McFadden (b. 1938) dress is reminiscent of Fortuny's iconic Delphos dress. Though both share an obvious... Read Article ››

Ted Lapidus fur, c. 1983
  Bill Cunningham's recent On The Street video "Fabulous, Mr. Fox," pointed out something I've noticed over the past few months: a renewed interest in animal prints and fur, both real and fake. In November 2010, the New York Times... Read Article ››

Evening ensemble, c. 1982
  Adolfo c. 1985 Gift of Mrs. Alfred Bloomingdale 2006.116.46AB Ballooning taffeta sleeves and a matching floor-length bouffant skirt are bold design elements characteristic of 1980s fashion. The decade also enjoyed renewed appreciation for applied... Read Article ››

Missoni
  Founded by the husband and wife team of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni in the 1950s, Missoni established its reputation on lightweight knit separates. Like their compatriots Pucci, Missoni designs have an easily recognizable look; colorful, geometric... Read Article ››
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