Pre-Opening Preview

This exhibit is about American women. It is about how women have shaped American society, and about the undergarments that have shaped them. 

Our exhibit will explore three central themes:

1. The perceived roles of women in American culture as they have changed over time, from the Federalist period to the present, and how those roles have shaped—and been shaped by—what women wear.

2. Feminist ideas and movements since the nation’s earliest days, and the significant role of undergarments relative to those movements.

3. The outward appearance and silhouette of stylish American women over the centuries. The design, intention, and transition of women’s undergarments that helped create the silhouettes.

The exhibit is divided into eight chapters of American history: