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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 118 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
  • 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 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dresses (garments) 171 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 24 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
  • Costume accessories 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Exhibitions (events) 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Gowns 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Main garments 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 60 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
  • 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
  • Niitsitapii (Blackfoot/Blackfeet) 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1900s 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1910s 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1920s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1950s 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1980s 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 71 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North and Central America 44 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 39 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • USA 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Los Angeles 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Washington 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • District of Columbia 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • England 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 57 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 39 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 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Political History: Political History, White House/First Ladies Collection 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Popular Entertainment 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • First Ladies 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing and dress 57 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Design 46 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • First ladies 41 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Presidents' spouses 41 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Fashion 35 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 29 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Women 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Actors and actresses 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 159 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 47 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 38 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Excluded:

  • Remove Topic: Dress accessories close

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

Rosalynn Carter’s Inaugural Gown, 1977

Edith Roosevelt's 1905 Inaugural Ball Gown

Barbara Bush’s Inaugural Gown, 1989

Dress worn by Lucy Lawless in the role of Xena on the TV Series Xena: Warrior Princess

Dress from Grizabella costume used in the musical Cats

Jacqueline Kennedy's Yellow Silk Reception Gown

Dress worn by Minnijean Brown in 1958 for the Spingarn Medal Award Ceremony

Nancy Reagan's 1981 Inaugural Ball Gown

Lady Bird Johnson's 1965 Inaugural Gown

Two Piece skirt with Bodice worn by Minnie Fiske in Miranda of the Balcony

Laura Bush’s Inaugural Ball Gown, 2001  

dress, 2-piece worn by Minnie FIske in The Dice of Gods

Dress designed by Ann Lowe

Lucy Hayes' Gown

Dress used by January Jones as Betty Draper in Mad Men

Dress worn by Minnijean Brown in 1958 for an Award Ceremony at the National Negro Elks Convention.

Red Dress

"Donna" Red Beaded Wool Dress

Red Flannel Dress With Elk Teeth Ornaments

Bodice for Red Native American Prom Dress

Red and yellow dress worn by Janet Jackson as Penny Woods on Good Times

Mary McKee's 1889 Inaugural Ball Gown

dress, 1-piece

Ida McKinley's 1901 Inaugural Ball Gown

dress, 1-piece

Jacqueline Kennedy's Pink and Cream Satin Evening Gown

Eleanor Roosevelt's 1941 Inaugural Ball Gown

Woman's Dress, 1872

Woman's wedding dress/outfit

Woman's wedding dress/outfit

Mini-dress and 'Baby Bonnet'


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