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Mid-20th Century Women's Garments

Mid-20th Century Women's Garments

The Museum holds a striking collection of mid-20th century garments worn by notable New York women and created by celebrated designers. The women's costumes, ranging from jumpsuits to evening gowns, document the city’s arrival as a fashion capital, and date from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Thanks to the support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Museum can now publicly share this collection online.

Coat of white rabbit fur inlaid with large-scale orange flowers with emerald green leaves — Coat of white rabbit fur inlaid with large-scale orange flowers with emerald green leaves
Coat of white rabbit fur inlaid with bright orange and emerald green abstract flowers and leaves (large-scale,...

Coat in navy blue and white silk check — Coat in navy blue and white silk check
Double-breasted spring coat in navy blue and white silk check; A-line; knee-length; wide rolled collar,...

Cocktail dress in black silk faille — Cocktail dress in black silk faille
Cocktail dress in black silk faille. A: Fitted cocktail dress with full pleated skirt, below-knee length;...

Coat in pale pink tinted ostrich feathers on silk gauze over grey taffeta — Coat in pale pink tinted ostrich feathers on silk gauze over grey taffeta
Coat of pale pink tinted ostrich feathers horizontally banded on grosgrain ribbon, mounted on silk gauze...

Ball gown of deep green silk faille — Ball gown of deep green silk faille
Dress of deep green silk faille; A-line; full-length; round neck; short sleeves; natural waistline; bodice...

Ball gown of coral velvet, pale coral silk and applied oversize velvet dots — Ball gown of coral velvet, pale coral silk and applied oversize velvet dots
Dress of coral velvet and pale coral stiff silk; A-line; full-length; scoop neck; sleeveless; velvet...

"Smoking" evening ensemble comprising tuxedo-style jacket and pants and black silk chiffon blouse — "Smoking" evening ensemble comprising tuxedo-style jacket and pants and black silk chiffon blouse
A: Tuxedo-style jacket; double-breasted, slightly fitted; crotch length; collar with deeply notched lapels,...

"Tissue-of-Diamonds" evening dress — "Tissue-of-Diamonds" evening dress
Evening dress of silk net hand-studded with crystal brilliants over peach crepe-back silk charmeuse;...

Ensemble comprising ball gown and coat — Ensemble comprising ball gown and coat
Ball gown and coat ensemble. A: Pale yellow silk taffeta princess-style dress; full-length; jewel neckline;...

Ball gown of purple satin and deep pink silk with horizontal rep stripes — Ball gown of purple satin and deep pink silk with horizontal rep stripes
Dress of purple satin and deep pink silk rep stripe in purple, black and green. A: A-line, full-length...

Suit in stock dyed grey wool tweed cheviot comprising jacket and skirt — Suit in stock dyed grey wool tweed cheviot comprising jacket and skirt
Suit in stock dyed grey wool tweed cheviot. A: Unfitted box-shaped jacket; hip length; cardigan neckline;...

Ensemble comprising ankle-length coat and miniskirt in red vinyl — Ensemble comprising ankle-length coat and miniskirt in red vinyl
Ensemble of red cloth-backed vinyl. A: A-line coat; full length; high yoke; stand-up collar; long sleeves;...

Evening ensemble comprising evening dress and coat in ice blue silk gazar — Evening ensemble comprising evening dress and coat in ice blue silk gazar
Evening ensemble of ice blue silk gazar. A: A-line dress; six-panel princess style; full length; round...

Cocktail dress of bubble gum pink worsted wool jersey with black satin trim — Cocktail dress of bubble gum pink worsted wool jersey with black satin trim
Cocktail dress of bubble gum pink worsted wool jersey and black silk satin trim; straight; knee-length;...

Dress of white cotton blend — Dress of white cotton blend
White cotton blend plain-weave dress; A-line; above-knee length; stand-up collar; sleeveless; seam down...

Cocktail dress of white cotton pique with cutouts and embroidery — Cocktail dress of white cotton pique with cutouts and embroidery
Dress of white cotton pique, cutouts and embroidered in white cotton floss, delineating large five-petaled...

Dress and stole in embroidered, rhinestone studded chrome yellow linen — Dress and stole in embroidered, rhinestone studded chrome yellow linen
Chrome yellow linen allover embroidered in purple and green chainstitch floral foliate designs, studded...

Ball gown of dark green silk chiffon over pale pink silk faille — Ball gown of dark green silk chiffon over pale pink silk faille
Dress of dark green silk chiffon over pale pink silk faille; princess style; full-length; scoop neck;...

Evening dress of red wool jersey and black wool crepe — Evening dress of red wool jersey and black wool crepe
Evening dress of red wool jersey bodice, black wool crepe skirt; straight; full-length; round neckline;...

Evening dress of gunmetal grey silk faille — Evening dress of gunmetal grey silk faille
Dress of gunmetal grey silk faille: unfitted to floor, stitched fold from left shoulder to curve in hem;...

Evening dress of white linen densely embroidered with large sequin flowers in relief — Evening dress of white linen densely embroidered with large sequin flowers in relief
White linen plain-weave dress, densely embroidered all over with large sequin flowers and vegetables...

Dinner ensemble comprising coat and dress with coordinating slip — Dinner ensemble comprising coat and dress with coordinating slip
Dinner ensemble. A: Coat in pale aqua and white large scale floral printed medium weight silk; A-line;...

"Prairie dress" in floral printed cotton with linen machine wheel lace insertion — "Prairie dress" in floral printed cotton with linen machine wheel lace insertion
A: Dress in black cotton broadcoth with pastel floral print; full-length gathered skirt with matching...

Dress in fuchsia, yellow and indigo boteh design printed on white Indian cotton voile — Dress in fuchsia, yellow and indigo boteh design printed on white Indian cotton voile
Dress with matching kerchief in white cotton voile printed in fuschia, yellow and indigo boteh pattern....

Evening ensemble in geometric printed cotton velveteen, comprising cloak and dress — Evening ensemble in geometric printed cotton velveteen, comprising cloak and dress
Evening ensemble comprising cloak and dress in cotton velveteen printed in bold kelly green, seafoam,...

Romper-style playsuit with printed blue flowers and grey kittens on white ground, with sash — Romper-style playsuit with printed blue flowers and grey kittens on white ground, with sash
A: Romper-style one-piece playsuit in white cotton printed with blue flowers and grey kittens; straight;...

Maxi coat with oversize concentric disks printed on Alizarin red velvet ground — Maxi coat with oversize concentric disks printed on Alizarin red velvet ground
A: Bright Alizarin red cotton velvet maxi coat printed with bold discs in red, black, white and brown...

Dress of black wool with belt — Dress of black wool with belt
A: Straight, fitted, black wool minidress; high-neck collar; long sleeves; natural waistline; pleats...

Suit in tan wild Indian silk — Suit in tan wild Indian silk
Suit comprising jacket and skirt in tan wild Indian silk. A: Box-shaped, hip-length jacket with wide...

Minidress of bright pink crepe with white crepe sleeves — Minidress of bright pink crepe with white crepe sleeves
A: Bright pink silk crepe dress, straight, above knee-length; round neckline; long butterfly sleeves...

Suit in beige silk shantung comprising suit and jacket — Suit in beige silk shantung comprising suit and jacket
Suit in beige silk shantung. A: Single-breasted jacket, fitted to natural waist, flared to hem; hip-length;...

Evening ensemble comprising overblouse and skirt in pink and white twill with confection beading — Evening ensemble comprising overblouse and skirt in pink and white twill with confection beading
Evening dress comprising overblouse, skirt, belt and stole in silk and cotton twill. A: Bubble gum pink...

Evening caftan in black silk velvet — Evening caftan in black silk velvet
Black silk velvet evening caftan; A-line; full-length; high, slightly widened jewel neckline; full-length...

Sundress in floral printed black cotton — Sundress in floral printed black cotton
Sundress in black cotton with red, yellow, green, white, and blue floral sprig and red dot print; below-knee...

Jumpsuit in all over printed harlequin pattern in shades of pink, purple, burgundy and coral — Jumpsuit in all over printed harlequin pattern in shades of pink, purple, burgundy and coral
Jumpsuit of silk and nylon, printed in harlequin pattern in shades of pink, purple, burgundy and coral;...

Cocktail dress in shocking pink foliate print on white slubbed silk broadcloth ground — Cocktail dress in shocking pink foliate print on white slubbed silk broadcloth ground
Cocktail dress in white slubbed silk broadcloth ground printed allover in shocking pink stylized foliate...

Day dress in floral printed, pleated Fortrel polyester — Day dress in floral printed, pleated Fortrel polyester
Day dress in pleated Fortrell polyester, sheer floral print in pink, orange, acid green and dark green;...

Suit comprising jacket and skirt in heather-toned pastel tweed with yellow blouse and purse — Suit comprising jacket and skirt in heather-toned pastel tweed with yellow blouse and purse
A: Jacket, heather-toned pastel novelty knit tweed in yellow, white, purple, green, orange, blue, turquoise...

Evening dress in black crinkle-texture vinyl on cotton and spandex ground — Evening dress in black crinkle-texture vinyl on cotton and spandex ground
Black crinkle-texture vinyl on cotton and spandex ground evening dress; A-line, full-length; scoop neckline;...

"Swirl" day dress and hat — "Swirl" day dress and hat
"Swirl" dress and hat in black and white crash linen boldly printed in swirls and arabesques. A: Slightly...

"Rose" dress — "Rose" dress
"Rose" dress in unbleached cream linen ground, printed with three oversized "American Beauty" roses on...

"Bullseye" day dress — "Bullseye" day dress
"Bullseye" day dress in black linen woven with horizontal stripes in gold, red and silver grey; shift;...

"Africa Speaks" caftan — "Africa Speaks" caftan
"Africa Speaks" caftan, red wool challis ground printed with royal blue, yellow, green, red and turquoise...

Day dress with Native American-inspired geometric motifs printed on silk pongee ground — Day dress with Native American-inspired geometric motifs printed on silk pongee ground
Day dress in off-white silk pongee ground printed with Native American-derived geometric motifs in black,...

Cocktail dress in purple and black flowered silk with belt — Cocktail dress in purple and black flowered silk with belt
Silk printed with purple flowers on black ground. A: Cocktail dress, off-the-shoulder neckline; sleeveless;...

Day dress in beige wool broadcloth with belt — Day dress in beige wool broadcloth with belt
Day dress and belt in beige wool broadcloth. A: Straight dress, cinched at natural waist; single-breasted;...

Swing coat in beige wool tweed — Swing coat in beige wool tweed
Beige wool tweed swing coat; below-knee length; choir-boy collar; double-breasted; bracelet-length wide...

Mask and three-part headpiece of black standing feathers and feather shafts — Mask and three-part headpiece of black standing feathers and feather shafts
A: Mask of black feathers with feathers and feather shafts standing up from the top of it. B-C: Headdress...

Evening dress and stole of black feathers on black organza — Evening dress and stole of black feathers on black organza
A: Evening dress of black organza covered with black ostrich feathers; A-line, lightly fitted bodice;...

Mask in white and black-dyed coq feathers in shape of intertwining swans — Mask in white and black-dyed coq feathers in shape of intertwining swans
Mask in white and black-dyed coq feathers, adhered to buckram, forming the shape of pair of intertwining...

Ball gown in white net with applied white ostrich feathers and pink roses — Ball gown in white net with applied white ostrich feathers and pink roses
"Coming-out" ball gown in white nylon net; full-length; boned bodice, rouched net on white silk taffeta...

Evening dress in black lace and black paillettes — Evening dress in black lace and black paillettes
Evening dress in black lace decorated with black sequins, on black silk underdress; fitted sheath; cut-away...

Halter neck evening dress with black paillettes — Halter neck evening dress with black paillettes
Evening dress in allover black paillettes on black silk ground; sheath; full-length; halter neckline...

Paper dress with black-and-white images of Governor Nelson Rockefeller on blue and yellow striped ground — Paper dress with black-and-white images of Governor Nelson Rockefeller on blue and yellow striped ground
Dress in paper with black-and-white images of Governor Nelson Rockefeller superimposed on blue and yellow...

Ensemble in printed cotton twill comprising beach jacket, bikini top and swimming trunks — Ensemble in printed cotton twill comprising beach jacket, bikini top and swimming trunks
Polished cotton twill printed in a diagonal abstract design of deep blue, aqua, and white with elephants....

Dress of cotton with white-on-red and red-on-white polka dots — Dress of cotton with white-on-red and red-on-white polka dots
Dress of cotton twill; fitted bodice of red cotton twill with white polka dots; "V" neckline; long bishop...

Evening dress in yellow Indian sari silk woven with gold — Evening dress in yellow Indian sari silk woven with gold
Evening dress in yellow Indian sari silk woven with gold, brocaded oval motif in silver and gold; straight,...

Ensemble comprising top, pants and skirt — Ensemble comprising top, pants and skirt
Evening ensemble of top and pants of white organdy with white pear applique and scallop embroidery, skirt...

Evening dress of blue paisley and gold striped woven chiffon, with belt — Evening dress of blue paisley and gold striped woven chiffon, with belt
A: Dress of blue paisley printed chiffon woven with horizontal stripes of gold flowers; straight, cinched...

Day ensemble of white silk twill with abstract floral pattern executed in irregularly shaped navy dots — Day ensemble of white silk twill with abstract floral pattern executed in irregularly shaped navy dots
Day ensemble of white silk twill with clusters of irregularly shaped navy dots. A: Straight, slightly...

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