Halston tie dye caftan next to a silk gown by James Galanos.įashion by American women designers included Vera Maxwell, Claire McCardell, Bonnie Cashin, and Carolyn Schnurer. Laurent, and Chanel.Ī grouping of gowns and coats by Charles Worth. Gres, Fontana, Balenciaga hidden behind Dior, Givenchy, Yves St. Above is a grouping of several of Charles James' most important designs.Īnd here, an entire wall of couture by Elsa Schiaparelli.įrom left to right: French couture by Jean Desses, Mme.

Two large rooms are divided by angled walls to allow the display of more mannequins, and several smaller rooms feature rare garments and accessories. The exhibit, curated by Jan Glier Reeder, features exquisite clothing from both American designers and French couturiers who influenced American fashion. And, unlike the Met, the Brooklyn Museum allowed non-flash photography! Shown here, from left to right: Pink gown by Bonnie Cashin, striped gown by Charles Worth, red gown by Charles James, and gold beaded evening set by Norman Norell. My breath was literally taken away when I walked through the doors to be greeted by this display.Ĭlean walls, simple mannequins, and no clutter allowed me to focus on what the exhibit was all about - the clothes. Both exhibits feature treasures from the Brooklyn Museum's extensive costume collection that has been transferred to the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute.Īfter my disappointment in the exhibit at the Met, I could only hope that the Brooklyn Museum's exhibit, ' American High Style: Fashioning a National Collection' would take a better approach. I was lucky enough to take a short trip to New York a couple of weeks ago with the sole intent of seeing the concurrent fashion exhibits on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum.

High Style by Jan Reeder