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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 ››
Gothe evening gown, early 1950s
How do you pin a corsage on a strapless gown? This question was posed by florists in the early 1950s, when strapless evening and ball gowns were all the rage. In lieu of pinning the corsage on a shoulder strap, florists suggested creative alternatives. Create... Read Article ››
Todd Oldham patchwork vest
Todd Oldham1991-92Museum Purchase2005.5.9 Todd Oldham's (b. 1961) designs were anything but basic. Instead of tasteful button down shirts or quiet business suits, Oldham offered eclectic ornamentation and an exuberant, catch-all approach to inspiration.... Read Article ››
Surrealist circle skirt, c. 1955
There's so much to say about this skirt! It's a classic 1950s circle skirt, but the embroidered, bejeweled hands decorating the skirt can be interpreted through a variety of lenses. More than just a decorative motif, these hands reach toward artistic... Read Article ››
Fashion Birthday: Madeleine Vionnet
French couturier Madeleine Vionnet was born on this day in 1876. Born in Chilleurs-aux-Bois, about 75 miles from Paris, Vionnet was apprenticed to a local dressmaker at age 11. She spent several years in this first apprenticeship, moving to a... Read Article ››
Black silk faille formal dress, 1894-96
Studying period garments, fashion illustrations, reference books, and whenever possible, photographs, helps create a mental checklist against which to compare undated garments and images. Unfitted, columnar dress with elaborate... 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 ››
Spring flowers
Spring is here! Today, March 20, is the first day of spring for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Spring brings longer days, warmer weather and a host of colorful blooms. In celebration of spring's arrival, we offer you an array of flowers... Read Article ››
In the archives: Silver paper headdress, c. 1860
First published in July 2010, this post explores the connections between a delicate nineteenth century headdress in our collection and dress of the ancient world. Anyone interested in the history of fashion quickly realizes that fashion is a... Read Article ››
Top five posts of 2011–“The Art of Dressing Has Never Been Manifested with So Much Brilliancy”: Fashion and the Paris Exposition of 1900
The most popular post of 2011 is truly deserving of this honor! Associate Curator Christina Johnson's investigation into a a 1900 gown in our collection and its relationship to the Paris Exposition of 1900 is a joy to read. *********** Did... Read Article ››
Top five posts of 2011–Louella Ballerino crop top, 1946
First published in July 2011, the second most popular post of 2011 describes how a serendipitous find dramatically altered our understanding of a midriff-baring 1940s crop top in our collection. ************ In 2003, a black and coral crop top was... Read Article ››