Fancy dress
Contemporary Halloween celebrations offer an opportunity for young and old to dress in costume, but in the 19th and early 20th century, Halloween was primarily geared towards children. Adults who wanted to dress in costume attended or hosted fancy dress... Read Article ››

Orientalism in fashion
For Western artists and designers, one of the most enduringly popular points of inspiration is “The Orient,” resulting in a style called “Orientalism.” In historical terms, the Orient was a broad geographical designation describing the many nations... Read Article ››

1870s Wedding Dress
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you almost certainly believe that sartorial choices are made by individuals to create aspirational versions of themselves, i.e. you dress in the fashion of the person you want, or believe yourself, to be. Given that... Read Article ››

Found textiles
All museum employees are charged with careful collection oversight. We monitor temperature and humidity, store objects with an eye to preventing damage while also trying to learn more about each object in the collection. Despite these efforts, we sometimes... Read Article ››

Adrian Ltd.
“What must be admired most in Adrian’s fashions is their construction; he is an architect, balancing proportions and studying every line. His approach is original and frequently unconventional, but that is what makes the viewing of an Adrian... Read Article ››

Just a glimpse…
Now that you’ve been introduced to the FIDM Museum, you’re probably wondering where and how we’ve acquired our objects. Museums acquire new objects in a variety of ways, but purchases, bequests and donations are the most common avenues by... 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 ››
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