Fantastic Fans
In 2015, the Museum of the City of New York digitized and catalogued almost 300 hand fans—nearly fifty percent of our collection—thanks to a grant from the Fan Association of … Continue reading
Truman Capote’s “Black and White Dance”
During the winter and early spring of 2016, the Museum photographed and catalogued over 400 mid-century garments from our costumes and textile collection through our Dressing Room project, funded by … Continue reading
Frequently Asked Questions for Rights & Reproductions
We receive many inquiries at the Museum of the City of New York regarding rights and reproductions for objects in our collections. Below are some frequently asked questions and responses. … Continue reading
Resuscitating Ruby’s Dolls
During the early brainstorming sessions for New York at Its Core, discussions turned to the potential exhibition of Bermuda-born New York designer Ruby Bailey’s “Cotton Sculpture” dolls. In 2004, the Museum … Continue reading
Tales from recent work with the Costume Collection
This week’s post is from Grace Hernandez, Assistant Curator of the Costumes and Textiles Collection. Over the fast few years, the Museum has been defining and honing the scope of … Continue reading
Valentina: Fashion Onstage
“The Theater of Valentina: Costume or Couture?” is a question posed by Kohle Yohannan in his groundbreaking book, Valentina: American Couture and the Cult of Celebrity.[1] Indeed, it can at … Continue reading
Corsets Begone: Women’s Fashions of the Roaring Twenties
The decade that gave rise to the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, the speakeasy, and the big band also brought with it soaring hemlines, breast-freeing bandeaus and the “uplift” brassiere, … Continue reading
Swan Hats and Fringed Coats: Remembering Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham (1929–2016) was known for many things—his keen eye for trends on the streets of New York, his anthropological approach to his work, his omnipresent bicycle and blue jacket, … Continue reading
Jumpsuits to Bullseye Bras: A Midcentury Fashion Trip
In the Dressing Room, on view at the City Museum through March 25, thanks to funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a mannequin cloaked in a … Continue reading
Can’t make it to the runway? Check out Dressing Room: Archiving Fashion
Do you have your tickets to New York City Fashion Week, yet? If not (or even if you do) we invite you to step up to the velvet rope here … Continue reading
Folded and Feathered: bringing hand fans to the Collections Portal
Long before air conditioning was a common amenity in most residences and buildings, high society New York women established their “cool” with an opulent, yet useful accessory: the hand fan. … Continue reading
Reintroducing Ruby Bailey!
In 2004 the Museum of the City of New York acquired a collection of clothing and fashion mannequins from the estate of Harlem resident Ruby Hyacinth Bailey. Her work, alongside … Continue reading
Mysteries in the Costume Collection
The City Museum’s Costume Collection offers a unique lens not just on New York’s history and aesthetics, but its personalities, too. Our most fascinating acquisitions come from those who’ve lived in … Continue reading
