There is Fashion in Chicago! I promise!
You had to know this was coming...
As a fashion lover living in Chicago, I’m used to feeling just a little jealous of the nonstop style content happening in New York. With exhibits constantly popping up at the Met or The Museum at FIT, it can feel like they get all the fashion fun—and we get left out of the conversation. But if my first-ever Fashion Fille article “There is fashion in Denver! I promise” taught me anything, it’s that every city has something stylish to offer—you just have to know where to look.
That mindset brought me to the Chicago History Museum’s latest exhibit, Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective, and I’m so glad it did. This isn’t just a local fashion exhibit—it’s a full-on celebration of style through the lens of Chicago’s own cultural, political, and artistic history. The exhibit marks 100 years of the museum’s collecting efforts and 50 years of its Costume Council, and it brings together over 70 garments and accessories that span everything from everyday wear to high fashion.
Walking through the space, I was struck by the variety—this isn’t an exhibit stuck in one aesthetic or era. You move from a Christian Dior gown in sweeping black tulle to a pair of original 1985 Air Jordan 1s, from a 1920s flapper dress to a sequined burlesque costume that quite literally sparkles with personality. There’s historic dress, there’s sportswear, there’s couture, and there’s even a whole section devoted to art-meets-fashion. It’s wide-ranging but intentional, with every piece chosen to reflect not just style, but the people and moments that shaped it.
My favorite piece in the entire exhibit? A 1988 Patrick Kelly suit decorated with appliqué lips and hearts. It was joyful, cheeky, and completely brilliant. Patrick Kelly’s work always radiates charm and subversion, and this piece was no exception. I wouldn’t call it the star of the show necessarily (this exhibit has a lot of stars), but it was absolutely the one I would’ve taken home if I had the chance.
One of the things I appreciated most was how accessible the exhibit felt. It’s scholarly without being dry, glamorous without being out of touch. There’s an attention to detail and storytelling that reminds you that fashion isn’t just about trends—it’s about culture, about identity, about context.
It also reminded me how important it is to support the fashion moments that happen right here in Chicago. No, we don’t have the MET Gala. But we do have a rich fashion history. We have designers, artists, wearers, and collectors. And in the case of Dressed in History, we have institutions making sure those stories are seen and appreciated.
So if you’re in Chicago—or planning a trip before July 27, 2025—go. Take your time with it. Read the placards. Notice the stitching. Think about the lives these garments lived before they ended up in glass cases. Because even if the fashion world tries to write its narrative around a few select cities, places like this exhibit remind you that style is everywhere. And Chicago? She’s absolutely part of that story.
You just have to look for it.
XO,
𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆
Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective
https://www.chicagohistory.org/exhibition/dressed-in-history-a-costume-collection-retrospective/
Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective
https://www.choosechicago.com/event/dressed-in-history-a-costume-collection-retrospective/