Have Yourself a Blue Holiday

Junya Watanabe repurposed denim dress (2002) Photo by William Palmer

By Alison A. Nieder | Thursday, November 12, 2015

This pair of men’s denim work pants circa 1840 predates the beginning of Levi Strauss & Co.’s jeans production.

What comes to mind when you think of the holidays in New York? The crowds of people checking out the holiday window displays on 5th Avenue? Ice skating at Rockefeller Center? Perhaps the smell of roasting chestnuts sold by a sidewalk vendor?

How about a retrospective on denim’s place in fashion history over the last 175 years?

That sounds about right to me.

On Dec. 1, the Fashion and Textile History Gallery at the Museum at FIT will open its latest exhibition “Denim: Fashion’s Frontier.” The exhibition will feature 70 objects from the museum’s permanent collection. which will highlight the history and evolution of denim clothing from workwear to high fashion.

The exhibition will run through May 7, 2016. For more information, visit www.fitnyc.edu/museum

From FIT's Denim: Fashion's Frontier exhibition: (top row) Claire McCardell denim “Pop Over” dress (1942); Roberto Cavalli embroidered denim ensemble (2003); Gianfranco Ferre denim-look silk suit (1999); (bottom row) Levi Strauss & Co. hand-embroidered jeans (1969); 1915 striped denim walking suit; Edun black and white denim dress (2007)