Fashion American Style: 1900-1999 America’s 20th Century Rise to Dominate World Fashion

In the 1900s, after centuries of dependence on Paris fashion dictates, Americans broke free to set their own fashion trends. Fashion American Style: 1900-1999, the new exhibition at the College of Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, documents American’s bold move during the course of the 20th century from formal and constrictive fashions to today’s casual simplicity.
Created by Gayle Strege, curator of the Historic Costume & Textiles Collection, the exhibition will document the rise of American designers of fashion from their first recognized influence during the 1930s, both in the industry and Hollywood, through World War II and the establishment of an American couture industry, to the end of the century when major changes in the garment industry affected apparel designers and design, production, and marketing.
The displays in Fashion American Style will highlight three areas of interest:

Early dominance by Paris, early influence of Hollywood designers, and World War II (1900-1945)
American Fashion: Couture, high-end ready-to-wear, and sportswear (1945-1970)
Fashion industry changes: The end of couture and the rise of licensing and designer ready-to-wear (1970-1999)

October 26, 2001 – May 18, 2002

Exhibit