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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 153 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 55 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of the American Indian 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Anacostia Community Museum 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • NMNH - Anthropology Dept. 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African Art 2 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) 197 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Main garments 29 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entire Body 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Woman's dress 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume accessories 12 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 58 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Indians of North America 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Native Americans 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Plains Indians 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Northern Plains 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Latin Americans 3 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
  • Niitsitapii (Blackfoot/Blackfeet) 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
  • 1940s 13 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 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 92 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 43 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North and Central America 43 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • USA 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Los Angeles 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • France 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • District of Columbia 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • England 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 55 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Home and Community Life: Costume 47 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing & Accessories 41 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 38 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 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of American History 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Political History: Political History, White House/First Ladies Collection 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing and dress 97 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Women 51 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Design 45 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • First ladies 43 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Presidents' spouses 43 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress accessories 42 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Fashion 35 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 28 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 190 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 49 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 37 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Excluded:

  • Remove Date: 2000s close

Turquoise blue dress with nude bodice and blue details designed by Peter Davy

dress for a squirrel; dress on cardboard hanger

Fitted dress with rainbow sequins and beading designed by Peter Davy

Dress

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

Cuban Rumba Dress

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

Costume gown and petticoat for Evillene in The Wiz on Broadway

Satin gown worn by Marian Anderson and Denyce Graves

Costume dress and belt for Dorothy in The Wiz on Broadway

Brown and cream striped day dress from the Civil War era

Dress worn by Denyce Graves in Washington National Opera's production of Carmen

Wedding dress worn by Lollaretta Pemberton with veil and headpiece

Child's dress

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

Nurse's uniform dress worn by Pauline Brown Payne

"Hippie" Dress or Shirt

Black beaded dress designed by Zelda Wynn and worn by Ella Fitzgerald

Dress

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

Purple dress and white belt worn by Dionne Warwick

Rose pink shirt dress and belt designed by Arthur McGee

Grey pinstriped dress and jacket designed by Arthur McGee

Feedsack Dress

1-piece dress

Black beaded Flapper Dress

Woman's dress

Woman's dress

short sleeved knee length African geometric pattern dress

Costume for Glinda the Good Witch in The Wiz on Broadway

light blue dress with sequenced beads at top

Dress worn by Jamie Farr as Maxwell Klinger on television series, M*A*S*H

dress with matching belted raincoat

Two piece dress, including skirt and halter top worn on the TV show "The Wonder Years"

Woman's dress

Woman's dress

blue sleeveless knee length dress with blue metallic thread

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