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NOW OPEN – What do a red sequin burlesque costume, a pair of original Air Jordan 1s, a baby’s wool bathing suit, and an enormous white tulle Christian Dior gown have in common? All these wearable artifacts are preserved in the Chicago History Museum’s vast costume collection, which strives to represent the many different people and stories that make up our city.   

Featuring 70 rarely seen objects, from glamorous gowns and sharp suits to housedresses and sneakers, Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective explores how clothing captures the material, social, and changing cultural values throughout history. The exhibition celebrates 100 years of an incredible collection and the donors, curators, and staff who have shaped it. 

 

Blogs

Evening dress by Cristobal Balenciaga Evening dress, 1963. Silk. Cristóbal Balenciaga, France. Gift of Mrs. Jay A. Pritzker. 1978.71.8. CHM, ICHi-179330.
Men’s varsity jacket by Off-White C/O Chicago Bulls Men's varsity jacket, circa 2023. Wool, leather. Off-White C/O Chicago Bulls, Milian, Italy. Chicago History Museum, ICHi-179648.
Baby dress Child’s dress, c. 1911. Silk. Maker unknown, France. Gift of Mr. Albert J. Beveridge III. 1984.677.9. CHM, ICHi-179345.
Marshall Field & Company Great Clock clutch Evening purse, 1997. Gold, metal, rhinestones. Judith Leiber, United States. Gift of Federated Retail Holdings Inc. 2007.100.105d-h. Chicago History Museum, ICHi-092764.
Women’s suit by Patrick Kelly; Men’s suit ensemble by Gianni Versace Women’s suit, c. 1988. Wool. Patrick Kelly, France. Gift of Ms. Dorothy Fuller. 2008.174.1a-b. Men’s suit, fall/winter 1985–86. Cashmere, wool, cotton, silk, leather. Gianni Versace, Italy. Gift of Gianni Versace. 1986.201.5a-e.
Witch style’ hat by Cat Chow Hat, c. 2001. Metal zippers, thread. Cat Chow, United States. Gift of the Estate of Ruth Horwich. 2015.23.5.  Chicago History Museum, ICHi-179396.
Evening dress titled Fidélité by Christian Dior Fidélité dress, autumn/winter 1949. Silk, nylon. Christian Dior, France. Gift of Mrs. Jeanne B. Heinzelman. 1983.28.1. Chicago History Museum, ICHi-179996.
Men’s shoes by Nike Air Jordan 1, men’s basketball shoes, c. 1985. Leather, plastic, nylon. Nike, United States. Gift of the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum. 1987.291.1g-h. Chicago History Museum, ICHi-179012.
Men’s burlesque costume by Jon Niehl Men’s burlesque costume, c. 1971. Jon Niehl, Chicago, United States. Gift of Jon Niehl. 2008.208.1a-d.  Chicago History Museum, ICHi-179810.

Curators and Contributors

Jessica Pushor square
Jessica Pushor
Collections Manager of Costume and Textiles, Exhibition Curator

Jessica Pushor is the collections manager of costume and textiles at CHM. She holds a MA in Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Pushor previously co-curated “Treasured Ten: Selections from the Costume Collection” and has assisted on several fashion exhibitions in the past. At CHM, she worked on “Silver Screen to Mainstream: American Fashion in the 1930s and ’40s” and “Making Mainbocher: The First American Couturier”.

Virginia Heaven
Curator of Costume, 2019–21

Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair (March 16, 2013–May 11, 2014), Silver Screen to Mainstream: American Fashion in the 1930s and ’40s (April 8, 2019–January 21, 2020)

Petra Slinkard
Curator of Costume, 2013–17

Chicago Styled: Fashioning The Magnificent Mile® (November 15, 2014–August 16, 2015), Making Mainbocher: The First American Couturier (October 22, 2016–August 20, 2017)

Timothy A. Long
Curator of Costume, 2006–11

Dior: The New Look (September 30, 2006–May 28, 2007), Chic Chicago: Couture Treasures from the Chicago History Museum (September 27, 2008–July 26, 2009), Bertha Honoré Palmer (May 23, 2009–January 4, 2010), I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot (May 22, 2010–January 3, 2011), Charles James: Genius Deconstructed (October 22, 2011–April 16, 2012)

Elizabeth Jachimowicz
Curator of Costume, 1974–89

Elizabeth Jachimowicz has curated more than 20 exhibitions for CHM, including Chicagoans in Paris, Social History through the Mirror of Fashion, A Sampling of Children’s Clothes, Fashions from the Wardrobe of Mrs. Robert Todd Lincoln, 1860–1920, Women’s Fashions of the 1920s, and The Wit and Fantasy of Ben Green-Field.

INTERESTED IN GROUP TOURS?

Stories are always better when shared! Bring your group to the Chicago History Museum and walk in the footsteps of the city’s past on a private tour. Groups of ten or more adults receive a discount when reserving at least four weeks in advance.

 

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