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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 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dresses (garments) 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entire Body 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Main garments 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 3-Piece 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 3-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Ensembles (costume) 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Shorts (garments) 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • dress, 1 piece 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • dress, 1 piece; entire body; main dress; female 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Latin Americans 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1940s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1950s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1980s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Los Angeles 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North and Central America 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Hollywood 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Beverly Hills 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Burbank 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Chicago 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • District of Columbia 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Illinois 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing & Accessories 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Costume 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Home and Community Life: Costume 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Popular Entertainment 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Fashion and Historical 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entertainment Nation 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Family & Social Life 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music & Musical Instruments 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing and dress 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Women 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Actors and actresses 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Design 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress accessories 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Television 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Family 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

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

Dress worn by Viola Davis to the 2015 Emmy Awards ceremony

Dress worn by Diana Ross

Woman's Dress, 1945

Costume worn by Flip Wilson as Geraldine

Dress worn by Isabel Sanford as Louise Jefferson on The Jeffersons

Dress worn by Phyllis Diller in The Pruitts of Southampton

Dress and belt worn by Marla Gibbs as Florence Johnston on The Jeffersons

Black dress worn by Oprah Winfrey as Sofia in The Color Purple

Miss Starlett costume, worn by Carol Burnett on "The Carol Burnett Show"

Dress worn by Mary Wilson

Dress, worn by Ella Fitzgerald

Bonita dress

dress, 3-piece

dress, 1 piece

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