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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 155 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 43 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 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Anacostia Community Museum 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • NMNH - Anthropology Dept. 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African Art 2 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) 188 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 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Woman's dress 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume accessories 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Exhibitions (events) 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 47 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Indians of North America 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Native Americans 21 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 3 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 28 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 15 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 84 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 35 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North and Central America 31 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • USA 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 13 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 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Washington 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Home and Community Life: Costume 50 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing & Accessories 43 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 43 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 40 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Costume 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of American History 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Popular Entertainment 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Black Fashion Museum Collection 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Fashion and Historical 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing and dress 87 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Women 52 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress accessories 44 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
  • Design 33 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Fashion 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 182 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 48 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 37 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Excluded:

  • Remove Date: 1980s close

Betty Ford’s State Dinner Dress, 1975 and 1976

Grace Coolidge's Brown Lace "Flapper" Dress

Edith Wilson's Black Satin and Crepe Dress

Lou Hoover's Purple Floral Day Dress

Grace Coolidge's Blue Sequined "Flapper" Dress

dress, worn by Minnie Fiske in Helenas Boys

Kiss of the Spider Woman dress, worn by Chita Rivera

dress worn by Elaine Temple in Merry Wives of Windsor

Dress worn in Broadway production of Kinky Boots

Skirt for Native American Prom Dress

Minnijean Brown Trickey's 1959 High School Graduation Dress

Mamie Eisenhower's Fuschia Gown

dress blue tunic worn by Minnie Fiske in Ghosts

Black lace and rust satin cocktail dress worn by Billie Holiday

Caroline Harrison's Burgundy Gown

Green Tafetta Dress with Pink Trim worn by Minnie Fiske in Lady Betty Martingale

Dress worn by Carol Burnett in the role of Charwoman on The Carol Burnett Show

Dress used by Felicia Day in "(Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar"

Dress designed by Ann Lowe

Melania Trump's 2017 inaugural ball gown

Dress worn by Minnie Fiske as Mistress Page in Merry Wives of Windsor

dress, 2-piece worn by Minnie Fiske in Lady Betty Martingale

Rosalynn Carter’s Inaugural Gown, 1977

Edith Roosevelt's 1905 Inaugural Ball Gown

Dress worn by Lucy Lawless in the role of Xena on the TV Series Xena: Warrior Princess

Dress from Grizabella costume used in the musical Cats

Jacqueline Kennedy's Yellow Silk Reception Gown

Dress worn by Minnijean Brown in 1958 for the Spingarn Medal Award Ceremony

Lady Bird Johnson's 1965 Inaugural Gown

Two Piece skirt with Bodice worn by Minnie Fiske in Miranda of the Balcony

Laura Bush’s Inaugural Ball Gown, 2001  

dress, 2-piece worn by Minnie FIske in The Dice of Gods

Dress designed by Ann Lowe

Lucy Hayes' Gown

Dress used by January Jones as Betty Draper in Mad Men

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