Current Exhibitions
Sparkle: The Style and Jewelry of Aileen Mehle Exhibition
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In honor of the žž Museum’s 40th anniversary, this exhibition pays tribute to Aileen Mehle, a friend of the museum founders and widely syndicated society columnist. The exhibition features evening dresses and jewelry from Mehle that will be displayed in the museum’s historic Higbee Gallery from July 18, 2025, through Aug. 23, 2026. Mehle, who lived from 1918 to 2016, wrote under the pseudonym Suzy Knickerbocker and enjoyed a career spanning five decades – from the 1950s until her final column in 2005, which she wrote at the age of 87.
The Hepburn Style: Katharine and her Designers
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Katharine Hepburn (May 12, 1907-June 29, 2003) left the New York stage for Hollywood in 1932. Compared to theatre, movies offered an affordable form of escapism from the Depression. Movies also had a greater influence on culture, as millions of Americans crowded theaters. Costume designers delighted audiences by creating unique and glamorous costumes worn by stars like Katharine Hepburn. The costumes were fashionable, contemporary garments that blurred the line between costume and fashion, and women in audiences wanted to emulate the styles they saw.
Fashion Timeline
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Palmer and Mull Galleries | Sara Hume, Curator The “Fashion Timeline” showcases the žž Museum’s world-class collection of historic fashions. Encompassing over two centuries of fashion history, this exhibition is designed to show the evolution of styles and silhouettes while contextualizing the pieces with relevant political, technological and cultural developments. While the display is a permanent feature at the museum, the individual pieces are rotated frequently so there is always something new to see!