This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Fashion Figure Winter 1921 Jeanne Lanvin Museum Purchase 2008.25.1 The original purpose of this extremely rare Jeanne Lanvin (1867-1946) fashion figure is a mystery. It may have been associated with an extensive display of figures at the International Silk... Read Article ››
Fashion Birthday: Hubert de Givenchy
Couturier Hubert de Givenchy was born on this day in 1927. Now retired, Givenchy is one of the last living couturiers to have learned his art during the golden age of the haute couture. His training began in 1945 when he took a position with Jacques... Read Article ››
From the Archives: Pucci maxi dress, 1964
Today's post, originally published in 2010, explores a 1964 Pucci print inspired by designer Emilio Pucci's travels in Africa. ********** Emilio Pucci's (1914-1992) intensely colored prints are one of the most easily identifiable signatures in... Read Article ››
Claire McCardell day dress, c. 1950
Day dressClaire McCardellc. 1950FIDM Museum Purchase2003.5.28AB Claire McCardell had a way with stripes. She played with them, spinning and twisting their orientation to create dazzling visual effects. Here, lavender, aqua, purple, and blue stripes are... Read Article ››
A Century of Cotton: Selections from The Helen Larson Historic Fashion Collection, 1800-1900
A Century of Cotton: Selections from The Helen Larson Historic Fashion Collection, 1800-1900FIDM Museum Larson GalleryTuesday through Saturday, 10am–5pmOpens to the public February 12, 2013 Showcasing the beauty and versatility of cotton fabrics, this... Read Article ››
Red and black ensemble, 1894-96
In the 1890s, most women’s dresses were made-to-measure. Though ready-made clothing was increasingly common, garments that required a precise fit or featured delicate embellishment were typically custom-made, either by the wearer herself, or by a trusted... Read Article ››
Video from the Costume Colloquium III
If Christina's recent post describing her experiences at the Costume Colloquium in Florence piqued your curiosity, you're in luck! Videos of all the conference presentations are now available on the Costume Colloquium website. You can watch... Read Article ››
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 ››
From the Archives: Quilted petticoat, c. 1840-45
This quilted petticoat is a fascinating garment. Though worn as an undergarment, it features detailed quilting and a cheerful textile. We first published this post in late 2009, but with winter weather on the horizon, it seemed a good time to revisit this... Read Article ››
From the Archives: Fancy dress costume, 1883-87
Halloween is next week! Will you be dressing up? For those of you who need a little costume inspiration, we offer you this post on an 1880s fancy dress costume in our collection. First posted in 2009, it's one of our most popular blog posts. Read through... Read Article ››
Chanel day dress, c. 1937
Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's (1883-1971) reputation is staked primarily on her exploration of menswear-inspired suits and her promotion of the understated little black dress. Though these creations are an important part of her aesthetic, her... Read Article ››
Girl’s embroidered ensemble, c. 1865
Girl's ensemblec. 1865 Silk faille, cotton embroidery floss & mother-of-pearl Museum Purchase 2010.5.4A-C Pink for girls and blue for boys is a twentieth-century adage; these colors were not always gendered this way. During the nineteenth century,... Read Article ››