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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 162 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 57 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of the American Indian 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • NMNH - Anthropology Dept. 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African Art 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dresses (garments) 200 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Main garments 31 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entire Body 29 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Woman's dress 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing 17 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
  • Exhibitions (events) 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 61 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Indians of North America 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Native Americans 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Plains Indians 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Northern Plains 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Latin Americans 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Absaroke Indians 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Assiniboine Indians 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dakota Indians 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Kiowa Indians 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1900s 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1910s 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1920s 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1950s 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 29 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1980s 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 98 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 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • USA 22 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
  • France 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Washington 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 57 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Home and Community Life: Costume 50 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing & Accessories 44 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 42 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Fashion and Historical 32 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Black Fashion Museum Collection 31 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Costume 28 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of American History 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Popular Entertainment 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing and dress 102 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Women 54 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Design 46 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress accessories 45 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
  • Fashion 35 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 30 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 193 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 50 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 40 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Excluded:

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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

Skirt for Native American Prom Dress

Minnijean Brown Trickey's 1959 High School Graduation Dress

Mamie Eisenhower's Fuschia Gown

dress blue tunic worn by Minnie Fiske in Ghosts

Black lace and rust satin cocktail dress worn by Billie Holiday

Caroline Harrison's Burgundy Gown

Green Tafetta Dress with Pink Trim worn by Minnie Fiske in Lady Betty Martingale

Dress worn by Carol Burnett in the role of Charwoman on The Carol Burnett Show

Dress used by Felicia Day in "(Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar"

Dress designed by Ann Lowe

Melania Trump's 2017 inaugural ball gown

Dress worn by Minnie Fiske as Mistress Page in Merry Wives of Windsor

dress, 2-piece worn by Minnie Fiske in Lady Betty Martingale


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