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The Museum at FIT Defines Elegance in the Age of Crisis

All photographs courtesy of The Museum at FIT
All photographs courtesy of The Museum at FIT

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For its latest exhibit, the Museum at FIT takes a look at what defined the 1930s—clothing-wise—spanning from the end of the Jazz Age to the beginning of World War II, at a time when the shapeless appeal of flapper dresses was fading and body-conscious eveningwear was at a peak.

The exhibit goes far beyond gowns, with a thorough representation of men's bespoke tailoring and "occasion-specific garments," like bathing suits and lingerie. Pieces were selected from Paris to Havana, and include everything from Vionnet dresses to the Chinese qipao.

The show is on view now at 227 West 27th Street, and will run through April 19th at the Special Exhibitions Gallery. Check out a few preview shots below.


· Elegance in an Age of Crisis: Fashions of the 1930s [FIT]

Museum at FIT

227 W 27th Street, New York, NY 10001 (212) 217-4558 Visit Website