The next exhibit of the Fashion Archives and Museum (FA&M) will open to the public on March 30, 2024, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Instrumental Fashions: Attire and Song explores the long-standing relationship between the latest fashions and current hit songs about clothing.
“Music and fashion have more in common than one might think,” explains FA&M director, Dr. Karin J. Bohleke, “Like fashion, musical genres have their moment of prominence, only to have another style emerge to replace them as newcomers on the scene attempt to differentiate themselves from the current trends. In addition, musicians incorporate keen observations on contemporary society. Naturally, fashions—from the elegant to the absurd—find themselves immortalized in catchy lyrics.”
Visitors will enjoy seeing historical boots and whether they were really “Made for Walking,” as well as the “Lady in Red,” the “Devil with a Blue Dress on,” a selection of “Sharp Dressed” men, and many other examples of fashions explored in pop songs. But sadly, unless someone has one to donate, the permanent collection has no yellow polka dot bikinis from the 1950s.
The exhibit runs through November 14.