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In 1950, most women viewed perfume as a luxury item, reserved for special occasions, and it represented less than one percent of the overall cosmetics market.1 Because it had a higher profit margin than skincare products or makeup, however, the beauty industry was eager to promote fragrance as an essential accessory. Avon Catalog1954Gift of the Annette Green Museum Read More »
Today's post (originally published in 2010) unwraps a collection of Christmas cards from couturier Lucien Lelong in the FIDM Museum's Annette Green Fragrance Archive. ********** Greeting card sent by Lucien Lelong 1935-1940 Gift of Monique Fink F2006.877.155 Read More »
This colorblocked dress in patriotic red, white, and blue is by Norman Norell (1900-1972), the so-called "Dean of American Fashion." Norell got his first Seventh Avenue job with designer Hattie Carnegie in 1928. A wholesale clothing manufacturer offered Norell a partnership, with a larger salary if his name wasn’t on the label. Norell took the lower salary and Read More »
In the 1920s, America's booming economy sent real estate prices--and buildings--soaring sky-high in crowded cities like New York and Chicago, where land was scarce and there was nowhere to go but up. Towering new edifices of glass and steel rose dozens of stories above city streets, earning the name "skyscrapers." In New York, the 1916 Read More »
Chatelaine Pin 1955 Gold-plated metal Gift of Jimmie Romero in memory of Christie Romero 2012.943.28AB This Love-Cuffs chatelaine pin was but one item in a line of "solid gold look" hand-cuff themed jewelry manufactured by Alice Jewelry of Providence, Rhode Island. Other items in the Love-Cuffs line included earrings and necklace with tiny dangling handcuffs, Read More »
Today's post offers a look at the many steps involved in curating Artfully Adorned: Jewelry from the Christie Romero Collection. Now on view in the Annette Green Fragrance Archive, this exhibition explores two centuries of jewelry history. Below, former Interim Assistant Registrar Ilana Winter describes how Artfully Adorned came together. ********** Putting together an exhibition Read More »
When you visit the 22nd Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition, you'll see a flawless display of more than 100 costumes. Of course, those mannequins didn't dress themselves! Today's post, written by FIDM Museum Registrar Meghan Hansen, describes all the pre-planning that happens in the weeks before the exhibit opens to the Read More »
Artfully Adorned: Jewelry from the Christie Romero Collection Presented in the Annette Green Fragrance Archive Monday–Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm FREE! Scottish Knot Brooch 1850-1860 Silver & agate Gift of Jimmie Romero in memory of Christie Romero 2012.943.5 Artfully Adorned explores two centuries of jewelry history. Designs, motifs, and materials place each artifact within Read More »
An occasional round-up of articles, events, exhibitions, and other information of interest. This week, we share a fascinating read, a festive perfume bottle, and footage of historic garments in action. Do you document your museum visits by taking lots of pictures? Recent research suggests that snapping photos of your favorite exhibits might decrease Read More »
According to this article, downtown Los Angeles (home of the FIDM Museum) has experienced snow only 6 times since a January 1949 snowstorm sprinkled downtown with less than 1 inch of snow. The last recorded snow downtown occurred in 1962, so it's unlikely that we'll get any this year. Instead, we'll just have to enjoy Read More »
The Annette Green Fragrance Archive Presents: Accessories from The Helen Larson Historic Fashion Collection Shoes Europe, c. 1800 Leather, canvas & ink Helen Larson Historic Fashion Collection L2011.13.534AB We are delighted to announce the opening of Accessories from The Helen Larson Historic Fashion Collection, now on view in The Annette Green Fragrance Archive. This new exhibit Read More »
For the next two weeks, we'll be featuring posts from our extensive blog archives. Today's post was written by Meghan Hansen, FIDM Museum Registrar, in 2009. In this post, she dives into our fragrance archive with an investigation into a counterfeit Chanel No. 5 box and bottle. ********** “Bathtub Perfume Traps Pool Shark”1 “Pair Arrested Read More »
