Museum of the City of New York
Houses one of the three most important collections of fashion in America, containing more than 25,000 items of clothing and accessories. The clothes date from the mid-18th century to the present day, and represent both local manufacturing and the most important fashions of this great cosmopolitan city. Among the items of greatest historical significance are the ball gowns worn at the inauguration of George Washington as President in 1789. Also notable are the collection of wedding dresses dating from between 1754 and 1997, and that of dresses by the Maison Worth created in Paris for high-society New York clients. Acquisitions of clothes continue to be made from the city’s current designers. The collection is enhanced by an archive of photographs and fashion magazines.