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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 156 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 14 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
  • Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African Art 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dresses (garments) 164 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 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Exhibitions (events) 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Gowns 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume accessories 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • dress, 1-piece 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Latin Americans 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Indians of North America 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Native Americans 3 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
  • Choctaw Indians 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Indian 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
  • 1910s 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1920s 14 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 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1980s 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 66 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North and Central America 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • France 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Los Angeles 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Paris 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
  • Home and Community Life: Costume 48 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing & Accessories 42 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 25 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 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • First Ladies 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Fashion and Historical 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing and dress 57 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress accessories 43 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • First ladies 42 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Presidents' spouses 42 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Women 39 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Inaugurations 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Theater 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Design 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Included:

  • Remove Rights & Restrictions: Not determined close

Concert Dress Worn By Phyllis Diller

Gold lamé strapless dress designed by Peter Davy

Dress worn by Phyllis Diller in Hello, Dolly! on Broadway

Dress worn by Phyllis Diller in The Pruitts of Southampton

Dark iridescent green and rainbow sequin dress designed by Peter Davy

Hello, Dolly Dress

Red dress with ruffled collar designed by Peter Davy

Black and silver drop waist dress with ruffle details designed by Peter Davy

Brown crepe dress with metallic embellishments designed by Peter Davy.

Hattie Carnegie Original Two-Piece Dress

Black satin dress with hand-shaped decoration designed by Peter Davy

Brown halter dress with gold music-themed embellishments designed by Peter Davy

Green dress with silver details and attached necklace designed by Peter Davy

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

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

Cuban Rumba Dress

"Hippie" Dress or Shirt

Dress

Woman's Dress, 2002

1-piece dress

Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Gown, 2009

Dress, worn by Ruth Fernandez

Black beaded Flapper Dress

short sleeved knee length African geometric pattern dress

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"

blue sleeveless knee length dress with blue metallic thread

Gown worn by Ginger Rogers in Follow the Fleet

Caroline Harrison's 1889 Inaugural Gown

black knee length dress with gold & light blue beading

Margarita Lora's Dress


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