Clothing & Accessories

Work, play, fashion, economic class, religious faith, even politics—all these aspects of American life and more are woven into clothing. The Museum cares for one of the nation's foremost collections of men's, women's, and children's garments and accessories—from wedding gowns and military uniforms to Halloween costumes and bathing suits.

The collections include work uniforms, academic gowns, clothing of presidents and first ladies, T-shirts bearing protest slogans, and a clean-room "bunny suit" from a manufacturer of computer microchips. Beyond garments, the collections encompass jewelry, handbags, hair dryers, dress forms, hatboxes, suitcases, salesmen's samples, and thousands of fashion prints, photographs, and original illustrations. The more than 30,000 artifacts here represent the changing appearance of Americans from the 1700s to the present day.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980s
ID Number
2011.0136.01
catalog number
2011.0136.01
accession number
2011.0136
This is a pair of rounded toe, red leather, women’s dress shoes made in 1958. They have a moderate cone heel (wider at the top and narrower at the bottom) with no embellishments.Currently not on view
Description
This is a pair of rounded toe, red leather, women’s dress shoes made in 1958. They have a moderate cone heel (wider at the top and narrower at the bottom) with no embellishments.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1958
ID Number
CS.313223.001
catalog number
313223.001
accession number
313223
These cast iron shoes were probably worn by a chemist, and probably date from the 18th century. The donor believed they once belonged to the famous French chemist, Antoine Lavoisier.
Description
These cast iron shoes were probably worn by a chemist, and probably date from the 18th century. The donor believed they once belonged to the famous French chemist, Antoine Lavoisier. But, as there is no way to verify this claim, we value these shoes for what they can tell us about early French scientific and cultural history.
Each shoe weighs over 1-1/2 lbs! There are rivets all around the top of the heels, sides, and insteps. On one shoe, some remnants of leather remain under the rivets. Whether this leather was strictly decorative or served some practical purpose is unknown.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
18th century
ID Number
CH.330783
catalog number
330783
accession number
299585
This is a pair of green leather and silk women’s shoes made around 1785-1790. Artisan shoes were often made in the home or in small shops, possibly as secondary income for farmers or fishermen.
Description
This is a pair of green leather and silk women’s shoes made around 1785-1790. Artisan shoes were often made in the home or in small shops, possibly as secondary income for farmers or fishermen.
date made
1700-1799
ID Number
CS.311503.002
catalog number
311503.002
accession number
311503
This is a pair of black, women’s, size 8 Fila sneakers most likely worn by an immigrant during a Mexican-U.S. border crossing. The sneakers are very worn and split down the middle of both shoes horizontally.
Description
This is a pair of black, women’s, size 8 Fila sneakers most likely worn by an immigrant during a Mexican-U.S. border crossing. The sneakers are very worn and split down the middle of both shoes horizontally. The sneakers were recovered at a dump site on the Arizona side of the border.
Fila is an Italian company started by two brothers in 1911 as a textile business. Over the years, the company has grown and expanded into an international business fabricating sports attire. Their breakthrough line came in the 1970s, the White Line Collection, aimed specifically at tennis players but the company designs sportswear for all types of athletes today (2015).
ID Number
2013.3012.01
accession number
2013.3012
catalog number
2013.3012.01
This is a pair of white silk women’s shoes with a green and pink flower motif embroidery on the toe. Artisan shoes were often made in the home or in small shops, possibly as secondary income for farmers or fishermen.Currently not on view
Description
This is a pair of white silk women’s shoes with a green and pink flower motif embroidery on the toe. Artisan shoes were often made in the home or in small shops, possibly as secondary income for farmers or fishermen.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1785-1795
ID Number
CS.311503.004
catalog number
311503.004
accession number
311503
This 18th century woman’s shoe has a gold silk damask upper, a wooden high heel, and is paired with a clog. The clog (also known as overshoe or patten) has a reinforced leather sole with mid-step support and ribbons to connect the clog to the shoe across the top of the foot.
Description
This 18th century woman’s shoe has a gold silk damask upper, a wooden high heel, and is paired with a clog. The clog (also known as overshoe or patten) has a reinforced leather sole with mid-step support and ribbons to connect the clog to the shoe across the top of the foot. A shoe like this was made bespoke specifically for the customer, and represented a significant investment for the purchaser. Because of this, many shoes were paired with some sort of protection worn for the sole of the show, allowing it to become a flat to walk over cobblestones and protect the nicer upper from the mud and muck of 18th century streets. This shoe is catalogued as CS*214253.001, its matching clog as CS*214253.002.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1700-1799
ID Number
CS.214253.001
catalog number
214253.001
accession number
214253
These leather children’s shoes around 1895. The shoes had a single button clasp around the ankle, and triangular broguing at the toecap. Clothing finishing at the edges and around the strap add a level of comfort.
Description
These leather children’s shoes around 1895. The shoes had a single button clasp around the ankle, and triangular broguing at the toecap. Clothing finishing at the edges and around the strap add a level of comfort.
date made
1890-1900
ID Number
CS.288748.003
catalog number
288748.003
accession number
288748
U.S. Army Contract Surgeon women's uniform from World War I. The uniform consists of a coat, skirt, shirtwaist, necktie, campaign hat, gloves, boots, and insignia. The coat and skirt are made of olive drab wool.
Description
U.S. Army Contract Surgeon women's uniform from World War I. The uniform consists of a coat, skirt, shirtwaist, necktie, campaign hat, gloves, boots, and insignia. The coat and skirt are made of olive drab wool. The hat is brown wool with a black and maroon hat band and black and gold hat cord. The shirt is olive drab cotton and the tie is maroon cotton. The gloves and boots are brown leather. Insignia include metal "U.S." insignia on shirt collar and bronze caduceus with a superimposed "CS" monogram on the coat lapels. World War I Victory ribbon on left breast. Three overseas service chevrons on lower left sleeve, depicting 6 months of service each. This uniform was worn by Dr. Loy McAfee, who was assigned to the Office of the Surgeon General by orders dated May 17, 1918. Donated by Dr. McAfee through The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.
During World War I the U.S. Army Medical Department employed contract surgeons in order to meet the demand for additional skilled medical personnel. Women who were contract surgeons served as anesthetists, lab technicians, dispensary physicians, and other capacities as needed.
Source:
Vivian Lea Young, “'Petticoats Are Part of this Uniform': American Women Volunteers of the First World War and Their Uniforms” (Master's thesis, George Washington University, 1987).
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1917-1918
ID Number
1998.0165.63.08
catalog number
1998.0165.63.08
accession number
1998.0165
This is a pair of pointed, red leather, women’s dress shoes made between 1954-1958. They have 2 ½” spike heels with a gold and leather accent on the toe of the shoe. The brand is Soubrettes by Niccolini.
Description
This is a pair of pointed, red leather, women’s dress shoes made between 1954-1958. They have 2 ½” spike heels with a gold and leather accent on the toe of the shoe. The brand is Soubrettes by Niccolini.
date made
1954-1958
ID Number
CS.316502.001
catalog number
316502.001
accession number
316502
These shoes of gray kid leather date from about 1805 to 1815. Likely made by an artisan working on a small scale, they have a beige silk binding around the opening and a pinked edge along the vamp.
Description
These shoes of gray kid leather date from about 1805 to 1815. Likely made by an artisan working on a small scale, they have a beige silk binding around the opening and a pinked edge along the vamp. They have brown leather soles with spring heels and would originally have had gray silk ribbon ties. The interior has beige linen lining and the maker’s paper label affixed inside.
Location
Currently not on view (ribbon fragments)
date made
1805-1815
maker
Field, John
ID Number
CS.006544
catalog number
006544
accession number
28810
These black canvas high-tops were worn by Jon Provost, the child actor who played Timmy on the television series Lassie (1957-64).
Description
These black canvas high-tops were worn by Jon Provost, the child actor who played Timmy on the television series Lassie (1957-64). Like many young sneaker owners, Provost customized his Keds by doodling on the rubber soles with a marker.
Since their invention in the early 1900s, sneakers have been a mainstay of childhood fashion, valued for their comfortable fit and sturdy construction as well as their style.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1957 - 1964
wearer
Provost, Jon
ID Number
1989.0009.03
accession number
1989.0009
catalog number
1989.0009.03
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1885
distributor
Carlisle Indian Industrial School
maker
Carlisle Indian Industrial School
ID Number
CS.076241
catalog number
076241
accession number
15995
Mrs. Lee had bound feet her entire life. Her daughter, Grace Mok, noted in an oral history that her limited mobility and difficulty in walking required her to be accompanied wherever she went.
Description
Mrs. Lee had bound feet her entire life. Her daughter, Grace Mok, noted in an oral history that her limited mobility and difficulty in walking required her to be accompanied wherever she went. Though these are not Ng Shee Lee’s shoes, they are similar to those she wore.
Foot binding in China may have originated as early as 900 AD. Though outlawed by the conquering Manchus in the 17th century, the Han Chinese retained the social practice into the 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1900
maker
unknown
ID Number
AG.A.2937
accession number
1926.93542
catalog number
A.2937
A002937
B-Girl Laneski, (born Lane Davey), wore these shoes around 1984-1985. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1970. Later moving to Seattle, she enrolled in a breakdancing class in 1983, taught by the Seattle Circuit Breakers.
Description (Brief)
B-Girl Laneski, (born Lane Davey), wore these shoes around 1984-1985. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1970. Later moving to Seattle, she enrolled in a breakdancing class in 1983, taught by the Seattle Circuit Breakers. The group was impressed with her dancing skills and subsequently gave her the name LaneSki. A pioneer in the male dominated Hip Hop world, Laneski was one of the first female breakdancers to master and develop many of the dance moves created in the early 1980s. These Three Stripe Basketball model sneakers were popular with hip hop artists such as Run-DMC in the 1980s.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1984
user
B-Girl Laneski
maker
Adidas
ID Number
2006.0192.02
accession number
2006.0192
catalog number
2006.0192.02
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
circa 2000
1998-2000
wearer
Anderson, Helen Elizabeth Carhart
maker
Macy's
ID Number
2013.0135.01
catalog number
2013.0135.01
accession number
2013.0135
indirect
Telemundo Network Group, LLC
wearer
Elvir, Dunia
maker
FILA
ID Number
2016.0252.01
catalog number
2016.0252.01
accession number
2016.0252
These shoes were made by Puma, circa 1984. The Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory was founded by Rudolph and Adolph Dassler, in Herzogenaurach, Germany in 1924.
Description (Brief)
These shoes were made by Puma, circa 1984. The Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory was founded by Rudolph and Adolph Dassler, in Herzogenaurach, Germany in 1924. The company manufactured track shoes for professional athletes and by 1948, split into two companies, Puma and Adidas.
These Puma Clyde model shoes, named after New York Knicks basketball star Walt “Clyde” Frazier who wore and endorsed them, were popular with graffiti artists in the 1970s and later with hip hop artists in the 1980s.
B-Girl Laneski, (born Lane Davey), wore these shoes around 1984-1985. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1970. Later moving to Seattle, she enrolled in a breakdancing class in 1983, taught by the Seattle Circuit Breakers. The group was impressed with her dancing skills and subsequently gave her the name LaneSki. A pioneer in the male dominated Hip Hop world, Laneski was one of the first female breakdancers to master and develop many of the dance moves created in the early 1980s.
Location
Currently on loan
date made
1984
user
B-Girl Laneski
maker
Puma
ID Number
2006.0192.01
accession number
2006.0192
catalog number
2006.0192.01

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