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Best Dressed: Fashion Trends and Famous Wearers

While the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is home to the renowned First Ladies' gown collection, dresses can be found throughout the Smithsonian's museums. These dresses reflect fashion trends, pop culture history, and their wearers. 

  • National Museum of American History 150 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 44 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of the American Indian 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Anacostia Community Museum 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • NMNH - Anthropology Dept. 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African Art 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dresses (garments) 191 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Main garments 31 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entire Body 29 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Woman's dress 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume accessories 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Exhibitions (events) 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 47 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Indians of North America 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Native Americans 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Plains Indians 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Northern Plains 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Latin Americans 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Absaroke Indians 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Assiniboine Indians 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dakota Indians 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Kiowa Indians 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1890s 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1900s 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1910s 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1920s 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1950s 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1980s 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 83 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 37 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North and Central America 33 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • USA 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • District of Columbia 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • France 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Los Angeles 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Washington 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Home and Community Life: Costume 46 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 44 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing & Accessories 40 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 38 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Fashion and Historical 32 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Black Fashion Museum Collection 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of American History 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Political History: Political History, White House/First Ladies Collection 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • First Ladies 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing and dress 85 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Women 51 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • First ladies 43 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Presidents' spouses 43 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress accessories 41 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Design 37 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Fashion 34 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 190 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 42 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 32 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Excluded:

  • Remove Date: 1970s close

Red dress designed by Diane von Furstenberg and worn by Whitney Houston

Ensemble associated with Marian Anderson's 1939 Lincoln Memorial concert

Dress worn by Phyllis Diller on Circus of the Stars

Dress worn by Viola Davis to the 2015 Emmy Awards ceremony

Dress designed by Tracy Reese and worn by the First Lady in connection with the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

Dance staff; Necklace; Woman's dress; Woman's moccasins; Woman's underdress/slip

Woman's Battle Dress, worn by female relatives of warriors of the Ton-Kon-Ga (Kiowa Black Leggings Society)

Cuban Flag Bata Cubana worn by Celia Cruz

Woman's Dress, 1789

Becky Sharp dress

Woman's ensemble

Woman's Dress, 1936

Black dress worn by Rachel Brosnahan in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Frances Cleveland's Floral chine skirt and two bodices

Red Starfleet uniform worn by Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura on Star Trek

Esther

Yellow cocktail dress designed by Don Loper and worn by Ella Fitzgerald

Woman's Dress, 1968–69

Evening Dress

Woman's Dress, 1750-1780

Woman's Dress, 1967

Dress worn by Diana Ross

Evening Dress and Underslip

Dress worn by Dustin Hoffman in the Film Tootsie

Child's dress

Woman's dress

Woman's dress

Green velvet dress worn by Lena Horne in the film Stormy Weather

Woman's Dress, Wedding, 1847

Dress worn by Celia Cruz

Woman's Dress, 1860

Woman's Dress, 1945

Sequin Dress from Hulu series East Los High

Peach dress and belt worn by Oprah Winfrey on The Oprah Winfrey Show

Dress worn by Misty Copeland in "On the Town" for Broadway Debut

Prom Dress

Circa 1930 Women's Gown (cheong sam)

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