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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 37 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dresses (garments) 51 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entire Body 28 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Main garments 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 2-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • dress, 1-piece 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1-piece dress 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-piece 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Coats (garments) 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Latin Americans 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Chinese Americans 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1780s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1860s 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1870s 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1910s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1940s 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1950s 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 38 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North and Central America 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • France 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Los Angeles 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Paris 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Île-de-France 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • District of Columbia 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Home and Community Life: Costume 34 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing & Accessories 28 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Fashion and Historical 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Black Fashion Museum Collection 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Costume 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Family & Social Life 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cultures & Communities 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Highlights from the Culture and the Arts Collection 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing and dress 45 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress accessories 28 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Design 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Fashion 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Society 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Actors and actresses 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Family 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Weddings 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 39 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Included:

  • Remove Topic: Women close

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

Dress worn by Viola Davis to the 2015 Emmy Awards ceremony

Woman's Dress, 1789

Tennis Dress, worn by Billie Jean King during the "Battle of the Sexes"

Woman's Dress, 1936

Red Starfleet uniform worn by Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura on Star Trek

Woman's Dress, 1968–69

Woman's Dress, 1750-1780

Woman's Dress, 1967

Green velvet dress worn by Lena Horne in the film Stormy Weather

Woman's Dress, Wedding, 1847

Woman's Dress, 1860

Woman's Dress, 1945

Prom Dress

Circa 1930 Women's Gown (cheong sam)

Dress designed by Ann Lowe

Dress designed by Ann Lowe

Dress designed by Ann Lowe

Dress designed by Ann Lowe

Dress designed by Ann Lowe

Purple dress designed by Oscar de la Renta and worn by Whitney Houston

Brown and cream striped day dress from the Civil War era

Costume dress for Lady in Orange from for colored girls... on Broadway

Nurse's uniform dress worn by Pauline Brown Payne

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

Woman's Dress, 2002

Feedsack Dress

1-piece dress

dress with matching belted raincoat

South Bend Blue Sox Baseball Dress, worn by Betsy Jochum

1-piece dress

Quinceanera dress

dress

Cocktail dress

Bonita dress


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