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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 52 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 44 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • NMNH - Anthropology Dept. 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dresses (garments) 86 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entire Body 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Main garments 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Ensembles (costume) 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • dress, 1-piece 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Belts (costume accessories) 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 2-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 47 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
  • Indians of North America 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Latin 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
  • 1860s 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1930s 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1940s 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1950s 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1980s 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 45 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North and Central America 44 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Los Angeles 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • District of Columbia 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Washington 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Illinois 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Manhattan 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 44 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Black Fashion Museum Collection 30 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Fashion and Historical 28 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Home and Community Life: Costume 28 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing & Accessories 27 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Costume 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Popular Entertainment 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cultures & Communities 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing and dress 71 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Design 38 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Women 38 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Fashion 29 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress accessories 27 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Actors and actresses 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Society 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 66 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Included:

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Dress, worn by Ella Fitzgerald

Bonita dress

Engagement Dress

Woman's Dress, 1799

Woman's Dress, 1862–68

Woman's Dress, 1842–50

Woman's Dress, 1855–65

Woman's Dress, Wedding, 1956

dress, 1-piece

dress, 3-piece

dress, 1-piece

Girl's Pink Crocheted Dress

Duchess of Exquisite Porcelain Dress

Kiss of the Spider Woman dress, worn by Chita Rivera

Dress worn in Broadway production of Kinky Boots

Minnijean Brown Trickey's 1959 High School Graduation Dress

Dress designed by Ann Lowe

Rosalynn Carter’s Inaugural Gown, 1977

Laura Bush’s Inaugural Ball Gown, 2001  

Dress designed by Ann Lowe

Red Flannel Dress With Elk Teeth Ornaments

Red and yellow dress worn by Janet Jackson as Penny Woods on Good Times

dress, 1-piece

dress, 1 piece

Costume gown for Glinda the Good Witch in The Wiz on Broadway

Woman's Dress, 1876

Woman's Dress, 1893–01

Beaded gown designed by Zelda Wynn for Eartha Kitt


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