Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style

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January 20–August 11, 2024
Fashion Exhibition
Curated by Laura L. Camerlengo
Image: Christian Dior Fall/Winter 1949 Couture ‘Junon’ Gown. Randy Dodson Photography, Courtesy FAMSF, San Francisco.

de Young Museum

50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
San Francisco, CA 94118
+1-415-750-3600

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de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, California, 94118

de Young Museum Hours

Monday	Closed
Tuesday	9:30 am – 5:15 pm
Wednesday	9:30 am – 5:15 pm
Thursday	9:30 am – 5:15 pm
Friday	9:30 am – 5:15 pm
Saturday	9:30 am – 5:15 pm
Sunday	9:30 am – 5:15 pm

Overview

I LOVE a fashion exhibition. Covered quite a few of them over the years (listed below if you want to check out). Excited for the de Young’s Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style opening on Jan 20th. The exhibition is curated by Laura L. Camerlengo and will showcase approximately 100 avant-garde pieces from 50 designers, including Comme des Garçons’ Rei Kawakubo and newer-comers like Christopher John Rogers, in the FAMSF fashion archive.

Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 2013 'Falcon' Gown. Randy Dodson Photography, Courtesy FAMSF, SF. Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style, de Young Museum — Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 2013 ‘Falcon’ Gown. Randy Dodson Photography, Courtesy FAMSF, San Francisco.

In addition to viewing a collection of couture garments (soooo many Diors and YSLs) worn by influential San Franciscans, like Nan Kempner and Dodie Rosekrans (granddaughter-in-law of the founders of the Legion of Honor) during the past century, you’ll be able to “try on” 3 designs from the exhibition with Snapchat’s AR mirror, marking its debut in a museum setting.

Lucile Evening Dress, ca. 1921. Randy Dodson Photography, Courtesy FAMSF, SF. Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style, de Young Museum — Lucile Evening Dress, ca. 1921. Randy Dodson Photography, Courtesy FAMSF, San Francisco.

The exhibition’s catalogue by Laura L. Camerlengo is a fascinating historical profile of San Francisco through its fashion arbiters from the past 100 years. It can be purchased at FAMSF stores and will be available for sale on Amazon on February 13, 2024.

Rodarte Evening Dress Spring/Summer 2011 Ready-to-Wear. Randy Dodson Photography, Courtesy FAMSF, SF. Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style — Rodarte Evening Dress Spring/Summer 2011 Ready-to-Wear. Randy Dodson Photography, Courtesy FAMSF, San Francisco.

I’ve gone through the 169-page catalogue, and the couture gowns (including the ‘Junon’ gown [shown at the top of the page], which is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE DIOR GOWN OF ALL TIME and the DOVIMA AVEDON ELEPHANT GOWN) are insane. You’ll see why I’m shouting in capitals once you see the show. Cannot wait.

Check back after January 20th for the exhibition highlights.

Ralph Rucci Fall Couture 2007. Randy Dodson Photography, Courtesy FAMSF, SF. Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style, de Young Museum — Ralph Rucci Fall Couture 2007. Randy Dodson Photography, Courtesy FAMSF, San Francisco.

🗓 Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style runs until August 11, 2024 at the de Young Museum. Tickets are $32 and include admission to the museum’s permanent collection.

QUICK GUIDE: de Young Museum

⭐ EXHIBITIONS: Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style (Jan 20–Aug 11, 2024); Lhola Amira: Facing the Future (Closes May 5, 2024); Nampeyo and the Sikyátki Revival (Closes Sept 15, 2024).
⭐ MUSEUM HOURS: Open Tuesday–Sunday 9:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.; CLOSED MONDAY. *Hamon Observation Tower Closes at 4:30 p.m.
⭐ ADMISSION: General Admission Adults $20; Seniors 65+ $17; Students (w/ID) $11; 17 & Under FREE. *SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS +$12 (Includes access to permanent collections); Membership (includes Legion of Honor) starts at $119.
⭐ DISCOUNTS: General Admission is FREE through the following programs: Free Satudays for Bay Area Residents (w/ID or postmarked envelope); Free First Tuesdays of the Month; Discover and Go (Free w/library card—may not apply to all counties); SF Museums for All (show your EBT or Medi-Cal card/ID); Public Transportation Discount (receive a $2 discount w/proof of receipt); Free Admission to all exhibitions w/Sotheby’s Preferred Membership. THE PERMANENT COLLECTION IS FREE TO VISIT AT 4:30 p.m.
⭐ EVENTS: (FREE) A Talk with Martin Chapman on His 20 Years as a FAMSF Curator on Jan 18, 10:30–12 p.m. (admission ticket required); A Conversation on Appropriation and Appreciation in Fashion on Jan 20, 1 p.m. (in-person and virtual); Drag Story Hour with Per Sia on Jan 20, 11–1:45 p.m.; A Conversation on Art as a Tool for Self-Discovery + Representation on Feb 1, 1 p.m.; Sketching in the Galleries from 11–3 p.m. on Jan 20/Gallery 28; Jan 27/Gallery 27; Feb 3/Hamon Tower; Feb 10/Galleries 21 + 22; Feb 17/Gallery 40
⭐ FOOD: de Young Café. American and European classic cuisine. Indoor and outdoor dining (w/weather permitting on the Barbro Osher Sculpture Garden Terrace). Open Tuesday–Sunday 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Coming Soon to the de Young Museum

Lee Mingwei: Rituals of Care | Opens Feb 17, 2024

Experience Lee Mingwei’s interactive installations and performances that place you at the center of radical acts of generosity and care.

Irving Penn | Opens March 16, 2024

Irving Penn is recognized as one of the 20th century’s greatest photographers. This exhibition includes works from every period of his nearly 70-year career.

Currently on View at Legion of Honor (FAMSF)

Botticelli Drawings | Legion of Honor | Nov 19–Feb 11, 2024 | A LOVE LETTER TO ART

Preview of the Bottecelli Drawings exhibition at San Francisco’s Legion of Honor Museum. Closes February 11, 2024.

A LOVE LETTER TO ART RECOMMENDS

(Book) Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style

Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style [Camerlengo, Laura L., Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style

(Book) Dior: Couture

Dior: Couture [Demarchelier, Patrick, Sischy, Ingrid] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Dior: Couture

(FAMSF Article) Sister Dresses: Christian Dior’s “Junon” and “Venus”

The designer’s “Junon” and “Venus” gowns represent the pinnacle of his creativity.

(Film) Watch The First Monday in May | Prime Video

Follow the creation of the most attended fashion exhibition of The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the 2015 Met Gala. With Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine and Met Gala chair, and Andrew Bolton, the curator.

(Documentary) Watch Dior and I (English Subtitled) | Prime Video

Dior and I brings the viewer inside the storied world of the Christian Dior fashion house with a privileged, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons’ first haute couture collection as its new artistic director.

(Documentary) Watch L’amour Fou | Prime Video

This extraordinary documentary provides an unprecedented look at the life of a mythic personality, Yves Saint Laurent, whose personal life matched his public for elegance, extravagance and passion.

(Biopic) Watch Yves Saint Laurent | Prime Video

Following a young assistant’s meteoric rise to the height of haute couture’s elite class in the wake of Christian Dior’s unexpected death, Yves Saint Laurent is at once a captivating story about the making of a fashion icon and a testament to the power of enduring love.

(Biopic) Watch Saint Laurent | Prime Video

SAINT LAURENT tells a story of the brilliant designer, his indulgent life and the price paid to be at the top of the world of fashion.

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