Chicago’s Fashion History on Display

There is more to Chicago history than steelworkers and hog butchers. There were dressmakers and milliners, manufacturers, and merchants who made our city their home see the fashions, accessories and more, worn by former presidents and first ladies, sports stars, celebrities or everyday people.

The Chicago History Museum puts its gowns and fashions on display like they did with “Coming of Age” and teen fashions in 2005, and with Chic Chicago: Chttp://www.chicagotalks.org/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wpeditimage/img/delete.pngouture Treasures from the Chicago History Museum that ran from Sept. 27, 2008–July 26, 2009, and the upcoming, not to be missed, exhibit of more than 7,000 pieces of designer goods from the collection of Eunice Johnson, wife of the founder of the Johnson Publishing Company, and originator of the EBONY Fashion Fair that will open in March 2013. But there isn’t space to have these treasures on permanent display. Fashionistas can exhale, pull out an iPad or cozy up the computer, and enjoy a feast for the eyes online.

The Chicago History Museum had put its outstanding and diverse collection of images, objects, books, manuscripts, and costumes online. The Museum is dedicated to making the collection accessible through exhibitions, programs, publications, and via the web.

Go to Digital Collections of the Chicago History Museum and enjoy checking out the diverse objects and artifacts. Although this section currently focuses on costumes, over time we will add pieces from the entire collection to the searchable online archive.