Chic Chicago
Benjamin B. Green-Field Gallery and The Mazza Foundation Gallery
Chic Chicago:
Couture Treasures from the Chicago History Museum
September 27, 2008, through July 26, 2009
"Chicago may be a man's town, but its history is emblazoned with the names of women—women whose spirit or charm or accomplishments lent an air of splendor to the sprawling lustiness of the city."
Norma Lee Browning, Chicago Tribune, 1948
From its inception, Chicago was cast as a crude and grimy upstart, a place of blood and smoke, congestion and pollution. Chicago's negative reputations—Hog Butcher for the World, Gangland, Second City—persist today, captured in popular culture.
Eager to overcome this gritty reputation, generations of Chicago women turned to the glamour of couture. Fashion, they believed, was the most dramatic way to prove Chicago's beauty and sophistication.
Chic Chicago presents the hallmarks of modern fashion. The exhibition's extraordinary garments date from 1861 to 2004 and represent the most prominent couturiers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Each gown has a strong connection to Chicago and belongs to the Museum's permanent collection.
Chicago History Museum Blog
The new Chicago History Museum blog features posts from staff who share their in-depth knowledge of the Museum's collection, programs, and exhibitions. Learn more about Chic Chicago and the costume and textile collection from the leaders of the exhibition team. Subscribe to the blog and enjoy regular posts that offer expertise and insight from the insiders' view.
> Visit the Chicago History Museum blog
FashioNext
FashioNext is a fashion design competition featuring established Chicago area designers. Each participating designer will create a couture garment inspired by one of five selected pieces from the exhibition Chic Chicago: Couture Treasures from the Chicago History Museum.
Multimedia
Slideshow
A preview of selected pieces from the exhibition.
> View a slideshow of gowns from Chic Chicago
Timothy Long, Curator of Costume
This video profile of Timothy Long offers a window into the role of curator and reveals what makes the Museum's costume holdings important and unique.
> View this profile of Timothy Long
Meghan Smith, Collection Manager
This video profile of Meghan Smith provides an overview of the costume and textile collection and insight into new directions in collection management.
> View this profile of Meghan Smith
Chic Chicago Behind the Scenes
In this video, members of the Chic Chicago exhibition team show how they work on different aspects of preparing the show.
> Get a behind-the-scenes view of the exhibition
Chic Chicago on Ovation TV
Chic Chicago was featured on the Ovation TV community website.
> Visit Chic Chicago on Ovation TV
Events
> Work Spaces, Chic Places: Saturday, January 10
> Out at CHM: Closets are for Clothes: Thursday, January 29
> Inside Chicago Fashion: Tuesdays, February 24, March 3, and March 10
> Chic Tour and Chicago Tea: Saturday, April 25
> Project Sunday: Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton: Sunday, June 7
Shop Chic Chicago
The Museum Store website, Chicago to go, offers a range of gifts related to Chic Chicago and fashion.
Chic Chicago is dedicated to the Costume Council of the Chicago Historical Society, and in memory of Hope B. McCormick. Ovation TV is the official network partner for Chic Chicago.