The ASU FIDM museum in Los Angeles, with the help of the local affluent fashion and style community, will debut a new exhibit, “Fashion Statement,” on September 5th.
The fashion museum features more than 70 pieces, curated with the help of some big names, including Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Jeremy Scott, Kevan Hall, costume designer Arianne Phillips, burlesque star Dita Von Teese, and 36 other creative guest contributors who have chosen pieces ranging from the 18th century to the present day.
The museum said many of the pieces have never been exhibited or shown outside its archives before, including corsets from 19th century Parisian fashion houses, a 1938 Elsa Schiaparelli evening gown, a 1940s Mae West negligee and a 1952 Christian Dior cocktail dress.
Silk satin and machine-woven cotton lace corset by Le Merveilleux, Paris, circa 1900. ASU FIDM Museum, 2020.5.73AB.
“The works in the ASU FIDM Archive represent centuries of craftsmanship and creative expression in the art of fashion – the fashion statements of their time,” Denita Sewell, founding director and professor of practice at ASU FIDM, said in a statement. “We invite experienced tastemakers, community pillars and fashion enthusiasts as guest contributors, and their selections reflect the current zeitgeist, providing a sampling of designs and ideas that demonstrate how modern audiences perceive fashion history. Through these perspectives, we aim to show how the invaluable resources available in the Archives and Library support Los Angeles’ thriving fashion industry.”
Other collaborators include costume designer Charles Antoinette, film director Liz Goldwyn, stylist B. Akerlund, designer Jerila Pack, designer Sue Stemp, journalist Joe Gee, artist Mark Palmen, and author Rose Apodaca, who served as collaborator liaison. The exhibition runs until November 9th.
Embroidered Silk Organza and Silk Charmeuse by Elsa Schiaparelli. France, 1938. ASU FIDM Museum, 2021.1796.1AB.
“Looking at the collection from a community perspective offers a new perspective on the archival works and opens up great possibilities for creative inspiration and education,” added Christina Johnson, senior curator at the ASU FIDM Museum. “The ASU FIDM Museum’s exhibits will broaden the story of fashion, inspire a new generation of designers, and celebrate the self-expression and joy that fashion brings to people.”
Founded in 1978, the ASU FIDM Museum is home to a collection of more than 15,000 pieces representing 400 years of fashion and costume design history. These pieces are available for research purposes to ASU FIDM (formerly known as the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) students and the public.
The name was changed last year after the building that had housed FIDM since 1990 was acquired by Arizona State University for $15 million. FIDM’s intellectual property, including trademarks, copyrights and fashion collections, was sold for $13 million. The museum’s past exhibitions include its annual “The Art of Costume Design in Film,” which last ran in 2023, and “Sports Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800-1960” in 2021.
“L’Occidentale” silk and horn fan with pochoir print by Paul Iribe for Jeanne Paquin. France, 1911. ASU FIDM Museum of Art, 2018.5.124A-C.