'American Glamour'

A testament to the expertise and imagination that marks American fashion history, creations from well-known and fledgling American designers form part of a dual exhibition now at The Musuem at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology).

More than 75 pieces that date from the 1930s to the present represent “American Beauty: Aeshetics and Innovation in Fashion.” “American Glamour: Fashion, Freedom and Igenuity” features 15 pieces from 15 American designers like Halston, Bill Blass, Isabel Toledo and the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte.

A pink blush gown from Charles James in 1953 that experimented with shape and contouring, to a floor-sweeping crimson strapless gown from Halston in 1976 that satisfied our aesthetic sensibilities are examples of some of the designs now on display.

Curators of the exhibitions, Deputy Director Patricia Mears of FIT and vintage expert Clair Watson sought pieces that reflected pioneering efforts in dressmaking and tailoring, in addition to ornamentation, engineering and geometry.

But unlike other exhibitions, this one – which opened Friday and will run until April 10 – is unlike any others of its kind…

First, the FIT exhibition gathers video commentary from fashion heavyweights like Hamish Bowles of Vogue and Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein.

And for those die-hard vintage shoppers, museum-goers can shop their favorite pieces from the exhibition – the graphic Campbell soup print dress reminiscent of Andy Warhol from the mid- 1960s and psychedelic cotton twill Geoffrey Beene mod dress from the 1960s – both on sale at yoox.com.

The “American Glamour” sale on yoox.com, which has partnered with FIT to create the two-part exhibition, keeps the love of vintage alive. Not only are these vintage pieces a rarity (what are the chances of finding another of its kind), but proves that real American glamour goes farther than sportswear.

According to Holly Brubach, creative consultant YOOX special projects, the exhibition arrives “at the perfect time.”

Here, here, Ms. Brubach.

-S. Gonzalez