Last night we had the pleasure of the attending of the Chicago History Museum’s newest exhibit — “Making Mainbocher: The First American Couturier”. The exhibit opened this past Saturday, October 22. Influencers and fashion bloggers were invited to mingle at a cocktail hour proceeded by a tour of the exhibit led by the curator of costumes, Petra Slinkard.
We viewed over 30 iconic garments of the Museum’s permanent collection and learned the history behind each piece. The exhibit included a variety of fashion illustrations, photographs, videos and much more! They even created an interactive display which encourages guests to test their fashion instincts.
A little background on Main Rousseau Bocher — he grew up in our beloved Chicago and then moved to Paris to pursue a career in fashion. In 1937, Mainbocher had the honor of designing the wedding for the Duchess of Windsor which solidified his name in the fashion industry.
After the preview of the exhibit, we headed over to the main ballroom to celebrate Mainbocher’s birthday! We were welcomed by a large live jazz band and refreshments. Members of the museum were encouraged to come out and enjoy the festivities.
Side note: we were able to speak with a woman who historian for the Girl Scouts organization. She wore an authentic Girl Scout uniform designed by Mainbocher that was truly amazing!
The Chicago History Museum offers a variety of exhibits that lets visitors dives into the depth of history. It has dedicated more than a century to celebrating and sharing Chicago’s rich stories.
We want to thank the Chicago History Museum for inviting us last night. We definitely plan on making a trip back to explore all the other exhibits.
Want to get in on the action? December 1st, the Museum is hosting “The Last Speakeasy” which will celebrate the 83rd anniversary of the repeal of prohibition. Check out their site for more detail!
Written by Ashlee O’Neil