Past Exhibitions (November 2012-2015)

​January-July 2015

Curated by Sequoia D. Barnes (M.S., Fashion Studies​ '15), Dilia López​-Gydosh (Curator of the Collection), and Belinda Orzada (Professor, Fashion and Apparel Studies)

The exhibition examined the Mod fashions of the 1960s, drawing inspiration from the Mod subculture and its connection to the popular Optical Art (Op Art) movement of the era as seen through garments and accessories.​

The origin of the mod subculture traces to 1962. Jobling and Crowley's Graphic Design: Reproduction and Representation Since 1800 (1996) called the mod subculture a "fashion-obsessed and hedonistic cult of the hyper-cool" that attracted young adults living in metropolitan London. Fashion-obsessed mods used every penny they had to buy the most stylish clothes. From color-blocked mini-dresses to Op Art-inspired ensembles, every mod chick made sure she w​as the best dressed while riding her Vespa or getting groovy at a swinging party.​

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​February-June 2013

Curated by Dilia López-Gydosh (Curator of the Collection)​, Belinda Orzada (Professor, Fashion and Apparel Studies), and Vicki Cassman (Associate Professor, Art Conservation)

Displayed in the West Gallery of the University Museums, the exhibition chronicled 20th century women’s fashion and explored the meaning of fashion in both social and historical contexts. It was a visual journey spanning decades of social change, told through the medium of clothing. As clues to the lives of individuals and to their roles in society, the garments in this exhibition became artifacts of women’s stories, illustrating the evolution of women’s roles, from the one-dimensional personification of “the weaker sex,” to equal members of the workforce. A digital component​ of the exhibition features a photo gallery, timeline, podcasts, and a copy of the exhibition's brochure.

​November 2012-March 2014

Curated by Dilia López-Gydosh (Curator of the Collection)​

This exhibition provided a retrospective of Girl Scout uniforms in celebration of the organization's 100th anniversary (1912-2012).  Starting with a uniform from 1922, the exhibition featured uniforms from the late 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1990s and 2000s. Of interest is the evolution from a mid-calf dress to a mini-dress in the late 1960s to pants and pantsuits in the 70s and the very informal shorts and vest uniforms of the 2000s.  The Girl Scout uniforms reflect changes in fashion and shifts in women's roles and social status during the 20th and 21st centuries.​