Diving into the history of American fashion

[On the cover: Teri Greeves, Abstraction: Kiowa by Design, 2014, beads on canvas high-heeled sneakers, 11 1/2 x 10 x 4 in. each. Courtesy Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas. Photo: Stephen Lang]

Cowboy boots, sneakers, swimsuits, jeans, Hollywood outfits are on display at the ‘Fashioning America: Grit to Glamor’ exhibition at the Crystal Bridge Museum in Bentonville, USA until the 30^th of January 2023. The exhibition features American fashion as an emblem of global visual culture, amplified through film, television, red carpets, and social media. From dresses worn by first ladies, to those inspired by art, to the most iconic garments that have defined generations, ‘Fashioning America’ conveys uniquely American innovation and amplifies the voices of those who have often been excluded from the dominant narratives of fashion. The itinerary winds through a hundred garments and accessories from two centuries of fashion. The exhibition emphasises the work of American immigrant, Native American, and black designers, as well as the journey of some fashion brands and their impact on visual culture in each decade.

Ruben Toledo, Tailors Forms 8, 2022 © Ruben Toledo