By Kaila Stang By Kaila Stang | September 18, 2024 | Lifestyle, Style & Beauty, Culture, Events,
The Chicago Costume Council celebrates a half-century of showcasing the city’s fashion scene with a seriously stylish new exhibition.
Fidélité dress in silk and nylon by Christian Dior from the autumn/winter 1949 collection.
When it comes to honoring and preserving Chicago’s rich fashion heritage, the Chicago History Museum and its esteemed Costume Council have long been at the forefront. From original Air Jordan 1s to an ornate white tulle Christian Dior gown from 1949 and over 70 other uberchic items, the Council’s holdings vividly capture the diverse and evolving fashion narrative of the city. Over its 50 years, the Costume Council has celebrated works by renowned designers like Yves Saint Laurent and Gianni Versace, as well as pieces worn by presidents, first ladies, athletes and celebrities. As this institution of style marks its 50th anniversary, the Chicago History Museum unveils a new blockbuster exhibition: Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective. Visitors can expect to glimpse rarely shown items from the museum’s extensive collection, including a baby’s wool bathing suit and a jacket designed by late Chicago icon Virgil Abloh. Curators, including Petra Slinkard, director of curatorial affairs at the Peabody Essex Museum and Timothy Long, director of museum business development and corporate client services at Freeman’s/Hindman have written essays for the catalog, emphasizing the global significance of these garments.
Meghan and Igor Afonkin show their stuff at the most recent Costume Council gala, which is always a highlight of the season’s social calendar.
In honor of the milestone, the Chicago History Museum is throwing one of the most anticipated galas of the fall social season: The Costume Council Golden Jubilee: Celebrating 50 Years of Chicago Fashion, on October 18. Aside from enjoying a sumptuous dinner, attendees have the opportunity to join the Golden Hour Afterparty, where they’ll enjoy an exclusive preview of the new exhibition, along with cocktails, small bites and surprise entertainment.
A circa 1963 silk evening dress by Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga.
With the works of some 30-plus renowned designers included, the Costume Council’s holdings represent the second-largest collection of its kind in the U.S., highlighting how clothing reflects cultural and social values over the past century, celebrating both the garments and the dedicated individuals who shaped the city’s fashion scene. Says David Mordini, Costume Council president, “The true magic of this collection is not its size, but the fact that everything in the collection was either worn by a Chicagoan, collected by a Chicagoan or designed by a Chicagoan.” Exhibition opens Oct. 19 at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St.; for further information and gala tickets, see chicagohistory.org
Photography by: Christian Dior wedding dress and Cristóbal Balenciaga dress photos COURTESY OF THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM; Meghan and Igor Afonkin PHOTO BY SEAN SU