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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 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dresses (garments) 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Main garments 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entire Body 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female; Wedding 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 2-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Exhibitions (events) 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Gowns 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 3 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
  • 1780s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1790s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1860s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1880s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1890s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1930s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • France 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Paris 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • USA 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • World 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Île-de-France 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Brooklyn 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • China 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Home and Community Life: Costume 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing & Accessories 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Popular Entertainment 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cultures & Communities 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Artifact Walls exhibit 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Chinese American 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Exhibitions Department 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Family & Social Life 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing and dress 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress accessories 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Women 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Theater 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Government 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Inaugurations 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • First ladies 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Presidents 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Included:

  • Remove Place: New York close

Woman's Dress, 1789

Becky Sharp dress

Woman's Dress, 1936

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

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

Circa 1930 Women's Gown (cheong sam)

Kinematics Dress #4

Dress worn by Phyllis Diller in Hello, Dolly! on Broadway

Hello, Dolly Dress

Hattie Carnegie Original Two-Piece Dress

Woman's Dress, 2002

Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Gown, 2009

Caroline Harrison's 1889 Inaugural Gown

Elphaba "Wicked Witch" dress made for original Broadway production of Wicked

dress

Twareg dress

Woman's Dress, 1799

Woman's Dress, 1855–65

Woman's Dress, Wedding, 1956

dress, 1-piece

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

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