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This bright blue bodice is a bit of a puzzle. Look closely at the image, and you'll probably notice something strange happening at the waist. Do you see the coarse cotton lining peeking out from below the blue silk waistband? The V-shape of the... Read Article ››
Indoor slippers, 1850-75
Our Study Collection offers FIDM students, faculty and researchers hands-on access to historic garments and accessories. Objects find a home in our Study Collection for a variety of reasons. Sometimes we have near multiples in the Permanent... Read Article ››
American Editions of Paris Originals: 1950s couture copying
Should fashion designers be able to protect their creative output with copyright protection? Regardless of your position on this issue, issues related to fashion and copyright keep appearing in the media. Just yesterday, fashion bloggers noticed that... Read Article ››
Re-Designing History: FIDM Museum Study Collection, 1850-2000
Re-Designing History: FIDM Museum Study Collection, 1850-2000 is now open! This free exhibition is open to the public Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–4pm, until December 17, 2010. Coatc. 1926Silk & lamé brocade & minkGift of Ms. Judy ThomsenFIDM... Read Article ››
S-bend silhouette
The S-bend silhouette emerged about 1900 and reigned supreme until the end of the decade. Created by a specific style of corset, the S-bend is characterized by a rounded, forward leaning torso with hips pushed back. This shape earned the silhouette its name;... Read Article ››
Traveling dusters
A traveling duster is a loose fitting outer garment worn to shield clothing from the dirt, dust and grime of travel. Though protective outer garments have been used for centuries to shield workers from the hazards of their trade, traveling dusters are unique... Read Article ››
Re-Designing History Illustration Competition
The FIDM Museum is holding an illustration competition for currently enrolled FIDM students! Create a design inspired by the beautiful, c. 1872 fuchsia day dress currently on view in the lobby of the second floor at the Los Angeles campus and you... Read Article ››
Pantsuit dressing, c. 1972
As described in this recent post on our Sonia Rykiel tunic, women gradually adopted trousers as everyday dress in the 1970s. While the Sonia Rykiel tunic demonstrates a somewhat ambivalent acceptance of trousers, this tan wool pants suit from our Study... 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 ››
Morning gown, c. 1895
For the Victorian woman, correct dress was an essential component of social acceptance. Women of the aristocratic classes and the nouveaux riche changed outfits multiple times each day, always with the knowledge that dress played a crucial role in determining... Read Article ››
FIDM Museum garment inspires The Wild Party costume
Today's post by Katy Werlin describes how a garment in the FIDM Museum collection inspired a costume for the musical The Wild Party. Katy interned with us during the summer of 2009, while on summer break from her studies at the University of North... Read Article ››
Military influence
Military inspired fashion has been getting a lot of attention lately. March 2010 issues of Harper's Bazaar and Vogue (both American and British) feature fashion editorials focusing on garments in khaki and shades of olive, while a recent New York Times... Read Article ››