Explore the intersections of fashion and music from Folk to Rock to HipHop. Select artifacts from the original exhibition are currently on display in the Thompson Library Special Collections Display Cases on the first floor outside the gallery through mid December 2024. The full exhibition is also archived as a digital exhibition here.
Curated by Julie Hillery, PhD and Marlise Schoeny
Halston sequin gown similar to gowns worn by Motown artists, The Supremes
Motorcycle jacket worn to punk concerts decorated with spikes on shoulders and band patches
Music and dress are a reflection of society at any given point in time. The diverse population of the United States has always, and continues to, influence both music and fashion. This exhibition displays artifacts tracing the history of American music and their influence on fashion. Beginning with the turn of the 20th century, it follows the relationship between fashion and music from its beginnings in vaudeville and with itinerant country singers to the current fashion companies run by rap superstars. From folk music to hip-hop, and related dress trends, from flapper dresses to Timberland boots, this exhibit provides examples of the interplay between music and fashion trends. Moreover, it examines how human behavior is influenced by the use of dress and how music serves as a means of communication between individuals.
Over 50 examples are on display in the Gladys Keller Snowden gallery, along with interactive links to listen to the top 10 songs of the decades of the 20th century.