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One of the most celebrated figures in the history of fashion, Christian Dior's reputation was founded on the New Look. Introduced in 1947, the New Look silhouette presented an idealized vision of the female body: soft, sloped shoulders and defined... 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 ››
Newsprint fashion
A Paul Poiret c. 1911 tunic and the daily newspaper--what do they have in common? At first, the relationship between a haute couture creation and the local newspaper might seem almost non-existent, however, both are communicative devices that convey... Read Article ››
FIDM Museum intern catalogs croquis
As we described in this post a few weeks ago, interns and volunteers are a tremendously important part of the FIDM Museum. We appreciate their varied efforts on behalf of our many objects! Today, recent intern Jasmine Helm describes her work with our... Read Article ››
FIDM Museum intern researches image copyright
Interns and volunteers are an integral part of the FIDM Museum. From conducting curatorial research to sewing labels in garments, assisting with organizational projects and helping out during exhibit installation, interns and volunteers offer invaluable... Read Article ››
Christian Dior’s New Look at the FIDM Museum
With it's slope shouldered, close-fitting bodice, wasp waist and extravagantly full skirt, Christian Dior's New Look of 1947 is one of the most distinct and recognizable silhouettes of the twentieth century. In contrast to early 1940s feminine... Read Article ››
FIDM Museum Shows Off at Debut
Our post today was written by Meghan Grossman Hansen, FIDM Museum Registrar. Last month the FIDM Museum participated in the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising’s annual Debut fashion show—but calm your fears, there were no models sauntering... Read Article ››
Forbidden fruit
A post from our Registrar, Meghan Grossman Hansen!Apples are grown around the world in thousands of varieties, so it is not surprising that they are an undying symbol in mythology, fairy tales, and popular culture. Putting aside the more contemporary... Read Article ››
Floating forms
A well-designed and well-installed museum exhibit appears effortless, as if the objects on display were always meant to be viewed in that exact context. Despite this apparent ease, museum exhibitions require a tremendous amount of long-range planning.... Read Article ››
Annette Green Fragrance Archive
In addition to our our garment collection, the FIDM Museum also houses an extensive fragrance archive. The Annette Green Fragrance Archive was donated to the FIDM Museum by Annette Green in 2005. A leader in the fragrance industry since the 1960s, Annette... Read Article ››
Upcoming exhibition!
High Style: Betsy Bloomingdale and the Haute CoutureOctober 21, 2009-December 13, 2009 We couldn’t wait any longer to tell you about this exhibition! We hope that all of our readers will all be able to attend, but for those who are outside the Los... Read Article ››
John Galliano for Christian Dior
When creating a collection, fashion designers typically mine multiple sources for their inspiration. This inspiration takes visual form on what is usually called a “mood board,” a group of visual references intended to guide the look and feel of a... Read Article ››