Duvelleroy fan-bag, 1890s
  Fan-bag 1890s Georges Duvelleroy Museum Purchase 2008.5.28 Luxury fan maker Jean-Pierre Duvelleroy (1802-1889) founded his namesake company in 1827. By the late nineteenth-century, Duvelleroy was the most prestigious éventailliste (fan maker) in... Read Article ››

From the Archives: Aprons
  The Thanksgiving meal is tradition-bound, featuring rich fare served only at the Thanksgiving table. With turkey, gravy, cranberries, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie, the typical Thanksgiving meal requires hours of preparation. Though your... Read Article ››

Miniature corset, 1890s
Miniature corset France, 1890s Museum Purchase 2010.5.9 The corset was literally and figuratively the most defining female fashion of the Victorian era. The body underneath and the clothing above relied on the anatomy-shaping device to compress excess flesh... Read Article ››

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 ››

Skirt lifter, c. 1876
Today's post was researched and written by FIDM Museum's summer intern Joanna Abijaoude. Over the past several weeks, Joanna has assisted with multiple projects, including digitizing ephemera from The Helen Larson Historic Fashion Collection and... Read Article ››

Donor Interview: Mona Nesseth on hand fans
Today's post highlights the recent donation of exceptional hand fans by FIDM Museum donor and Fashion Council member Mona Nesseth. Thanks to Mona's contributions, our collection of fans has grown by leaps and bounds. A Graduate Gemologist, custom... Read Article ››

1880s bustle
Bustle c. 1883-87 Museum Purchase 2005.5.174 Technical innovations continually influenced female appearance during the nineteenth century. Not only were textile production and sewing capabilities improved, but cutting-edge processes shaped the body with... Read Article ››

André Courrèges sunglasses, 1965
Sunglasses André Courrèges 1965 Museum Purchase, Funds provided by Robert Nelson 2008.528.1A/B André Courrèges's Space Age fashions of the mid-1960s featured structured silhouettes and sleek, lunar white accessories. Focusing on structure over... Read Article ››

Jeanne Lanvin bonnet, 1913
Jeanne Lanvin 1913 Gift of Joshua & Jenny Livingston 2000.879.39 Like her contemporary Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, Jeanne Lanvin's (1867–1946) career began with hats. As a teenager, Lanvin apprenticed with at least two Parisian milliners,... Read Article ››

Vest & watch fob, 1855-65
  Vest United States, 1855-65 Gift of the Napa County Historical Society 2009.1001.11 By the mid-nineteenth century, male attire was configured into a standard three-piece suit consisting of a jacket, vest, and trousers. Almost a uniform, the... Read Article ››

Fashion Birthday: Miuccia Prada
Happy birthday to Miuccia Prada, born on May 10, 1949! Prada, the creative force behind her family's 100 year old company, has a knack for distilling her interests (in and outside of fashion) into influential collections that chart the course of fashion.... Read Article ››
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