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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 156 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 46 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 25 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
  • Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African Art 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dresses (garments) 197 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Main garments 30 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entire Body 29 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 23 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
  • Gowns 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • dress, 1-piece 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 49 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Latin Americans 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Asian Pacific Americans 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Chinese Americans 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Choctaw Indians 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Indian 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Indians of North America 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Mexican Americans 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Native Americans 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Romanies 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1910s 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1920s 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1940s 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1950s 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1980s 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 88 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 38 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North and Central America 35 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 14 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
  • District of Columbia 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Paris 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • England 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Home and Community Life: Costume 47 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 46 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing & Accessories 43 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 42 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Fashion and Historical 28 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Black Fashion Museum Collection 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of American History 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Popular Entertainment 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Political History: Political History, White House/First Ladies Collection 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing and dress 89 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Women 51 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • First ladies 45 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Presidents' spouses 45 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress accessories 43 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Design 39 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Fashion 30 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 194 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 49 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Excluded:

  • Remove Rights & Restrictions: Usage conditions apply close

Engagement Dress

Twareg dress

Maxi dress

Woman's Dress, 1799

dress, 1-piece

Woman's Dress, 1911

Martha Washington's dress

Woman's Dress, 1862–68

dress, 1-piece

Woman's Dress, 1842–50

Traditional Korean Child's Dress

dress, 2-piece

Woman's Dress, 1855–65

Woman's Dress, Wedding, 1956

dress, 1-piece

dress, 3-piece

dress, 1-piece

dress, 1-piece

dress, 1-piece

dress, 1-piece

dress, 1-piece

Girl's Pink Crocheted Dress

Lou Hoover's Silver Dress

Dress worn by Phyllis Diller

Duchess of Exquisite Porcelain Dress

Betty Ford’s State Dinner Dress, 1975 and 1976

Mexican-Style Dress, about 1960

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


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