Museums are a great place to go to learn more about a certain topic or time period in history. The Smithsonian Museums in D.C., for example, are popular among tourists who want to learn about American history, astronauts and outer space, African American history and culture, and art.
The US is home to a lot of niche and unique museums. For example, Arkansas’s Walmart Museum shares the history of this retail giant. There are also plenty of fashion-focused museums in America that are perfect for fashion lovers. New York and California contain several must-see fashion museums, and there are also several others scattered across middle America. The ten museums listed in this article are great tourist spots for any fashion expert or novice looking to learn more about the world of fashion and design.
10 Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indiana
High fashion is not typically associated with the Midwest state of Indiana, but the rotating fashion exhibitions at the Indianapolis Museum Of Art are anything but average. The museum’s current fashion exhibit is titled “Stephen Sprouse: Rock | Art | Fashion” and showcases over 60 ensembles created by designer Stephen Sprouse. Sprouse’s work is edgy, with street style and rock n’ roll influences. These colorful and maximalist garments highlight Sprouse’s playful side. This exhibit runs from July 16, 2022- April 2, 2023.
Many travelers visit Indiana for an adventure at Indiana Dunes, yet the state’s museums and fashion exhibits are worth visiting as well.
- Address: 4000 N Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46208
- Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11 am-4 pm, closed Mondays
- Cost: Adult- $20, senior (55+)- $18, child (6-17)- $13
9 Legion of Honor, California
Another museum featuring must-see fashion exhibitions is the Legion of Honor. Located in San Francisco, California, the Legion of Honor is a fine arts museum with a mission to use local and international art to help visitors become more knowledgeable and excited about art. While the museum does not strictly educate visitors on fashion, it does offer spectacular rotating fashion exhibitions. Currently on display is “Guo Pei: Couture Fantasy,” which features over 80 works from Chinese couturier Guo Pei. These ornate, embroidered clothes showcase Pei’s ability to blend traditional Chinese imperial designs with European architecture and add a 21st-century flare.
- Address: 100 34th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
- Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:30 am-5:15 pm
- Cost: Adult- $15, senior (65+)- $12, student (with ID)- $6, child (0-17)- free
8 Texas Fashion Collection, University of North Texas
Fashion lovers should not discount university museums. Visiting college towns often creates fun feelings of nostalgia. Travelers can get their fashion fix and the nostalgic feeling of being back in university by visiting the Texas Fashion Collection at the University of North Texas.
As of 2018, the Texas Fashion Collection does not have a set exhibition space. While this is rather unfortunate, there are still ways for fashion lovers to access past collections. Interested parties can arrange a private tour of the collection storage. TFC also has a digital library containing images of past collections. They are in the process of digitizing all their designs, which date back as far as 1938.
- Address: 405 S Welch St, Denton, TX 76201
- Tours: email cvad.tfc@unt.edu to request a tour
- Cost: Free
7 Goldstein Museum of Design, Minnesota
Another museum located on a college campus is the Goldstein Museum of Design at the University of Minnesota. This museum focuses on all aspects of design, from clothing design to furniture design to shelter design. A unique past fashion exhibition was titled “Inside Her Clothes.” The goal of this exhibit was to get visitors thinking about how clothes are produced and used. Some clothing items were showcased inside out, offering up a unique viewpoint of a classic garment.
- Address: 1985 Buford Ave, St Paul, MN 55108
- Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-4:30 pm, closed Sundays and Mondays
- Cost: Free
6 Kent State University Museum, Ohio
Yet another university museum fashion lovers must visit is the Kent State University Museum in Kent, Ohio. The Kent State University website explains that this museum contains “collections of historical dress, fashion, textiles, and decorative arts.” One must-see exhibit that runs until August 27, 2023, is “As the World Weds: Global Wedding Traditions.” This exhibit not only teaches visitors about the various wedding rituals and practices around the world but also how wedding attire varies from country to country and from century to century. The exhibit does a stellar job of combining fashion and history.
- Address: 515 Hilltop Dr, Kent, OH 44240
- Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11 am-5 pm, Sunday 12-4 pm, closed Mondays
- Cost: Adult- $6, senior (55+)- $5, students and children (5-18)- $4, KSU students- free
- Tip: Museum is free on Sundays
5 Museum at FIT, New York
From designer stores to fashion weeks to Vogue’s headquarters, New York City is the city for fashion lovers to visit and explore. When planning the ultimate trip to New York City, fashion fanatics need to add the Museum at FIT to their itineraries. Begin by viewing FIT’s permanent collection of over 50,000 garments from the 1700s-present day. One unique feature of this museum is the “Talk and Tours,” which are guided tours of current exhibitions. These tours are a great way to learn more about the pieces on display and ask questions.
- Address: 227 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001
- Hours: Wednesday-Friday 12-8 pm, Saturday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm, closed Mondays and Tuesdays
- Cost: Free
4 Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California
Los Angeles is another US city known for its connection to fashion. While shopping on Rodeo Drive is a fun fashion-related activity, travelers should also make a stop at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to view the fashion design exhibits.
This museum is known for its wide variety of art, including ceramics, paintings, sculptures, and modern video art installations. After viewing a fashion exhibit, tourists should explore the numerous other works of art at LACMA.
- Address: 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
- Hours: Monday-Tuesday 11 am-6 pm, closed Wednesdays, Thursday-Friday 11 am-6 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am-7 pm
- Cost: Adult- $25
3 Brooklyn Museum, New York
Another New York City spot fashion lovers will love is the Brooklyn Museum. This art museum features a wide array of exhibits, from colorful modern art pieces to ancient Egyptian art. One temporary exhibit perfect for any shoe lover or streetwear fan is “Virgil Abloh: ‘Figures of Speech.’” Running until January 29, 2023, this exhibit features several of Abloh’s designs, highlighting his ability to combine fashion and art with contemporary culture.
- Address: 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238
- Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 11 am-6 pm, closed Mondays and Tuesdays
- Cost: Adult- $25, senior (65+)- $16, student- $16, child (4-12)- $10
2 The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of America’s most famous art museums, and for good reason. Every fashion lover knows of the famous Met Gala, a ball thrown to raise money for The Met’s Costume Institute. The Met’s Spring 2023 Costume Institute Exhibition is “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” As this exhibit does not appear until 2023, there are plenty of current exhibits those who are fond of fashion should check out. “Kimono Style, the John. C. Weber Collection,” for example, explores the history of kimonos and how these garments are created.
- Address: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028
- Hours: Sunday-Thursday 10 am-5 pm, Friday-Saturday 10 am-9 pm
- Cost: Adult- $30, senior- $22, student- $17, children (11 and under)- free
1 Anna Wintour Costume Center, New York
The Anna Wintour Costume Center is located inside The Met. The Costume Institute Collection is actually located inside the Anna Wintour Costume Center. This massive collection contains over 33,000 objects from the 1400s to present day. The collection also includes breathtaking gowns with tulle textures, silky fabrics, and unique shapes.
There are a few things to know before visiting The Met, including when to avoid crowds (avoid weekend afternoons) and which wings to visit. For the best experience possible, create a list of exhibits to view and wings to explore prior to visiting The Met.