Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

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 52 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 44 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • NMNH - Anthropology Dept. 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dresses (garments) 86 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entire Body 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Main garments 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Ensembles (costume) 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • dress, 1-piece 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Belts (costume accessories) 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 1-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress, 2-Piece; Entire Body; Main Dress; Female 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 47 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
  • Indians of North America 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Latin Americans 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Native Americans 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Romanies 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1860s 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1930s 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1940s 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1950s 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1980s 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 7 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 21 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
  • Washington 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Illinois 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Manhattan 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 44 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Black Fashion Museum Collection 30 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Fashion and Historical 28 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Home and Community Life: Costume 28 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing & Accessories 27 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing - Costume 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Popular Entertainment 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cultures & Communities 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Clothing and dress 71 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Design 38 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Women 38 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Fashion 29 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dress accessories 27 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Costume 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Actors and actresses 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Society 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 66 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 25 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Included:

  • Remove Place: United States close

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

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

Costume gown and petticoat for Evillene in The Wiz on Broadway

Costume dress and belt for Dorothy in The Wiz on Broadway

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

Wedding dress worn by Lollaretta Pemberton with veil and headpiece

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

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

Woman's Dress, 2002

Rose pink shirt dress and belt designed by Arthur McGee

Grey pinstriped dress and jacket designed by Arthur McGee

Teal waitress uniform worn by Halle Berry in the film Monster's Ball

Feedsack Dress

Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Gown, 2009

Costume for Glinda the Good Witch in The Wiz on Broadway

dress with matching belted raincoat

Caroline Harrison's 1889 Inaugural Gown

Costume gown, petticoat, and jacket for Addaperle in The Wiz on Broadway

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

Woman's Calico Dress

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

Quinceanera dress

dress


  1. First page First
  2. Previous page Previous
  3. Page 1
  4. Current page 2
  5. Page 3
  6. Next page Next
  7. Last page Last
arrow-up Back to top
Home
  • Facebook facebook
  • Instagram instagram
  • LinkedIn linkedin
  • YouTube youtube

  • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
  • Shop Online
  • Job Opportunities
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use