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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. 


  • Dresses (garments) 132 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
  • Dress, 1-Piece 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Gowns 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • dress, 1-piece 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-piece 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 2-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Latin Americans 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Indians of North America 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Native Americans 2 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
  • Mexican Americans 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Romanies 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Spaniards 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1910s 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1920s 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1930s 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1940s 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1950s 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1980s 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 52 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • District of Columbia 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Los Angeles 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • France 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
  • Washington 4 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
  • National Museum of American History 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Popular Entertainment 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
  • First Ladies 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Political History: Political History, First Ladies Collection 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music & Musical Instruments 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Political History: Political History, General History Collection 7 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
  • Clothing and dress 44 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress accessories 44 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Women 37 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Inaugurations 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Theater 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Musical instruments 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 156 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

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1-piece dress

Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Gown, 2009

Dress, worn by Ruth Fernandez

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"

Gown worn by Ginger Rogers in Follow the Fleet

Caroline Harrison's 1889 Inaugural Gown

Margarita Lora's Dress

Hillary Clinton's 1993 inaugural ball gown

dress worn for "hippie" wedding on the TV show "The Wonder Years."

Dress worn by Olga Guillot

China Poblana Dress

Miss Starlett costume, worn by Carol Burnett on "The Carol Burnett Show"

South Bend Blue Sox Baseball Dress, worn by Betsy Jochum

Dress worn by Mary Wilson

1-piece dress

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

Mary Lincoln's Dress

Mary Lincoln's Dress

Quinceanera dress

dress

dress

Dress worn by Celia Cruz

dress

dress

Dress, worn by Ella Fitzgerald

dress

costume, dress

Cocktail dress

Bonita dress

Engagement Dress

Woman's Dress, 1799

dress, 1-piece

Woman's Dress, 1911


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