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The following post was written by Christina Johnson, Associate Curator of the FIDM Museum. FIDM Museum Rudi Gernreich Archive Storage, 2019. Reorganizing and cataloging the FIDM Museum’s Rudi Gernreich Archive was one of the first projects I began after... Read Article ››
Rudi Gernreich in Reigning Men
The FIDM Museum is always thrilled to be a part of fashion exhibitions at other institutions, especially when we can collaborate with our fellow Los Angeles museums! This spring, LACMA's incredible exhibition Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear,... Read Article ››
Intern Report: Rudi Gernreich’s Kimono Dress
In today's blog post, former intern Mari Ogino uncovers the political implications of Rudi Gernreich's Kimono dress. She traces the ways in which the undefined shape of the kimono helped liberate western women's bodies from confining... Read Article ››
Fashion Birthday: Rudi Gernreich
Rudi Gernreich was born on this day in 1922! August 8, 2014 would have been his 92nd birthday. Born in Austria, Gernreich immigrated to the United States in 1938. After settling in Los Angeles, the fledgling designer produced his first collection in... Read Article ››
Rudi Gernreich garments featured in A Queer History of Fashion
We're delighted that two Rudi Gernreich garments from our collection are featured in A Queer History of Fashion: From the Closet to the Catwalk at the Museum at FIT. Open through January 4, 2014, A Queer History of Fashion explores the "significant... Read Article ››
Fashion Birthday: Rudi Gernreich
Rudi Gernreich was born on August 8, 1922; today would have been his 91st birthday. As a fashion designer, Gernreich was interested in freeing the body from physical and psychological constraints. His interest in experimentation was sometimes shocking.... Read Article ››
Rudi Gernreich mini dress
Minidress Rudi Gernreich 1967-68 Bequest of the Rudi Gernreich Estate G85.331.1 Rudi Gernreich is probably best known for his most provocative creations, such as the monokini or this military ensemble. Though Gernreich was definitely interested in pushing... Read Article ››
Transforming the Rudi Gernreich Archive
If you read this post, you'll know that the FIDM Museum houses an extensive Rudi Gernreich Archive. The Archive numbers nearly 1,000 items and includes not only garments and accessories, but patterns, furniture, scrapbooks and other miscellaneous items.... Read Article ››
Rudi Gernreich
California-based designer Rudi Gernreich (1922-1985) was no stranger to inciting controversy. Often called America's most avant-garde designer, Gernreich pushed fashion into new arenas rather than mining its past for... Read Article ››