Costumes Collections Museums

This is the first publication on a remarkable collection of sixty-six outstanding Pueblo and Navajo textiles donated to the Peabody Museum in the 1980s by William Claflin, Jr., a prominent Boston businessman, avocational anthropologist, and patron of Southwestern archaeology. Claflin bequeathed to the museum not only these beautiful textiles, but also his detailed accounts of their collection histories--a rare record of the individuals who had owned or traded these weavings before they found a h... [Read More]

An alluring, opulent showcase of hundreds of beautiful historic clothing items and accessories“High Style is filled with fashion inspiration and information. . . . Nearly every page…includes a captivating photo of one of the collection’s lavish garments or accessories.”—Threads   Published for the first time in paperback, this lavishly illustrated volume originally appeared in 2010 to celebrate the transfer of the Brooklyn Museum’s historic costume collection to The Metropolitan Mus... [Read More]

A festive outfit for Thanksgiving. The Pilgrim Girl child costume includes a dress with attached apron and collar, and a bonnet. Shoes not included.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute exhibition is the most spectacular event of its kind. With subjects that both reflect the zeitgeist and contribute to its creation, each exhibi­tion—from 2005’s Chanel, to 2011’s Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty and 2013’s Punk—creates a provocative and engaging narrative attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors. The show’s opening-night gala, produced in collaboration with Vogue magazine and attended by the likes of Be... [Read More]

"His work went beyond fashion and was a fine art." —a Charles James patron Charles James, often considered to be America’s first couturier, was renowned in the 1940s and 1950s as a master at sculpting fabric for the female form and creating fashions that defined mid-century glamour. Although James had no formal training as a dressmaker, he created strikingly original and complex designs, including intricate ball gowns worn by members of high society in New York and Europe. This lavishly illu... [Read More]

Enjoy Four Rare and Thrilling Films! Five(1951) Black and White 93 minutes Not RatedStarring: William Phipps, Susan Douglas, James Anderson, Charles Lampkin, Earl LeeWhen a nuclear bomb destroys the world, only five survivors remain. A pregnant woman, a philosopher, a black man, a banker and an explorer seek shelter in an abandoned house. As the last living human beings, they must work together. However, their clashing visions of the future could lead to their destruction. The Mad Magician(1954)... [Read More]

The Colonial Man child costume is good for dressing up as late 17th century historical figures such as Benjamin Franklin. Costume includes a jacket with attached vest, cravat, and knickers pants. Franklin Wig sold separately. Boots, socks, and glasses not included.