FIDM Magazine

Opening Party: Couture Is the Star at FIDM’s Latest Fashion Exhibition

Couture gowns on display in the FIDM Museum & Galleries

James Bloomingdale and Wyatt Bloomingdale

Berry and Hayley Bloomingdale, Jane Bloomingdale-Cisneros 

James Galanos and Betsy Bloomingdale

Betsy Bloomingdale

Museum Co-Curators Christina Johnson and Kevin Jones

It was fitting that the FIDM Museum & Galleries launched their latest exhibition with a black tie event. The exhibition commemorates three decades of fashion design courtesy of socialite and style icon Betsy Bloomingdale. “High Style: Betsy Bloomingdale and the Haute Couture" features a stunning array of designer ensembles, from a feathered silk dress by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel to a lovely Christian Dior gown with hand-dyed silk organza petals.

A member of the Best Dressed List in 1964 and 1966 and inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1970, Bloomingdale is the widow of Bloomingdale’s department store heir, Alfred S. Bloomingdale. A native of Beverly Hills, she is an internationally known socialite whose heralded collection of haute couture pieces has earned her universal respect in the fashion design industry. A friend of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Bloomingdale was an honored guest at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for a fashion exhibition entitled “Nancy Reagan: A First Lady’s Style.” She was also selected to honor well-known fashion designer James Galanos with the Rodeo Drive Style Award in 2007.

“High Style: Betsy Bloomingdale and the Haute Couture” celebrates the donation of over one hundred haute couture garments given to the FIDM Museum at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising over the past thirty years. Featuring more than sixty fashionable ensembles, the exhibit showcases the creation of haute couture garments and presents a never-before-seen look into Bloomingdale’s personal life and style.  Other items on display include hand-drawn croquis, contemporary photographs, and magazine layouts illustrating garments ordered by Bloomingdale.

Costume designers featured in this remarkable exhibition include Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferre for Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Balmain, Yves St. Laurent, Andre Courreges, James Galanos, Adolfo, Oscar de la Renta, and Valentino. Accompanying the exhibition is a catalog and video documentary, which includes interviews with Mrs. Bloomingdale, Hubert Givenchy, James Galanos, Oscar de la Renta, Adolfo, and Francois Lesage, among others. For more information, visit FIDM.edu.

Sneak Peek at "High Style: Betsy Bloomingdale and the Haute Couture"

The FIDM Museum & Galleries is debuting a new exhibition, "High Style: Betsy Bloomingdale and the Haute Couture," next month. Running from October 21, 2009 to December 13, 2009, you'll find a stunning collection of more than 100 haute couture garments from the International Best Dressed Hall of Fame icon Betsy Bloomingdale.

You can read more about this exciting exhibition on the FIDM Museum Blog. 

FIDM Museum & Galleries Launch a New Blog

Learn about important designers, vintage sewing patterns, fashion design, exhibition information, and more at the new FIDM Museum & Galleries Blog! In addition, you'll find detailed photos to accompany the posts, which provide information and inspiration. The two piece Vivienne Westwood suit with tie shown above is from the Autumn/Winter 1993 collection.

"The Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design" Reviewed on Blog Downtown

Blog Downtown has posted a rave about "The Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design" exhibition at the FIDM Museum & Galleries, which features costumes from shows such as No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, The Tudors, Grey Gardens, Dancing With the Stars, and Project Runway (shown above). You can read the article here.

FIDM Students Re-Interpret Dorothy's Ruby Slippers

As part of a design competition to re-interpret Dorothy's iconic ruby slippers in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, 12 Footwear Design Students created sketches for The Ruby Slipper Collection.

Winner Kaddie Lam will be flown out to New York City in September for a charity auction at Tavern on the Green that will benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The winner and three finalists' sketches were recently displayed in the FIDM Museum and Galleries.

FIDM's Star-Studded Wizard of Oz Opening Gala

The FIDM Museum & Galleries and Warner Bros. threw an opening fête for the college's newest exhibition: The Ruby Slipper Collection and Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Collection. The event featured a "yellow brick" carpet, a gaggle of Dorothys (including FIDM Student and Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum's great great grandaughter), and many celebrity guests, including FIDM Grad/Instructor/Project Runway star Nick Verreos, Entourage's Debi Mazar, George Lopez, Kristin Cavalarri, Jennifer Tisdale and Linda Ramone.

The exhibition features 19 pairs of shoes by top designers (including L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, Manolo, Betsey Johson, and more) inspired by Dorothy's red slippers. It's free to the public and open daily from 10am to 4pm through Sunday, June 21. 

Visit the FIDM Museum & Galleries on FIDM.edu for details.

Tarina Tarantino at FIDM Museum Store

In addition to the fabulous opening of the "Ruby Slipper Collection" and "Inspirations of Oz" Exhibition, the FIDM Museum & Galleries will be featuring an exclusive line of jewelry by Tarina Tarantino. Here is a sneak peek of some pieces featured in the store. You can also buy Tarantino's jewelry online at the fidmmuseumshop.com. The Exhibition will be open to the public beginning Wednesday, June 10th.

 

On Exhibit in the FIDM L.A. Lobby

On exhibit in the FIDM 2nd floor lobby: A taffeta day dress with tuck detail (c. 1950) and a beaded cardigan (c. 1950-55) from the FIDM Museum Study Collection.

The Rudi Gernreich Archive

The FIDM Museum houses the Rudi Gernreich Archive which contains approximately 2,000 garments and accessories, 1,500 patterns, and 37 scrapbooks.  The Archive was donated to the FIDM Museum in 1985 by the Gernreich Estate.  The Archive is open by appointment to students and researchers. This is just one of the many unique permanent collections in the FIDM Museum & Galleries. Call 213.623.5821 or visit www.FIDMmuseum.org.

Image: Printed silk dress from FIDM's Rudi Gernreich Archives

FIDM's Movie Costume Exhibition Launches!

 
The FIDM Museum & Galleries' popular 17th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition opened on Saturday night. Over 150 FIDM Grads, including Kevan Hall, Nick Verreos, Estevan Ramos, Daniel Caudill, and Suzy Magnin, and their guests attended the event, along with industry notables. "It was our biggest opening to date," said Exhibition Coordinator Michael Black. Alumni Relations Director Nathalie Holtzman added, "It was a spectacular evening and great to see all the grads!"

Costumes featured in this year's exhibition include Academy Award Best Costume Design nominees The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Duchess, and Milk, as well as Doubt, The Dark Knight, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and so many more--over 22 movies in all!

The free exhibition runs through March 29, 2009. Group Tours are available. Visit the FIDM Museum & Galleries online for more information. --Kim