Late 20th Century
Learn more about garments and other objects from the 1970s to the 1990s.
(PDF file) A Marilyn Brooks Evening Gown (opens in new window)
Reflecting on her experiences with the Canadian designer, Dr. Ingrid Mida speaks to the importance of Marilyn Brooks's 40-year career.
(PDF file) Hanae Mori Velvet Shift Dress (opens in new window)
Kimberly Lecky writes about who might have been the original wearer of a Hanae Mori dress from the 1970s.
(PDF file) Military Influence on Fashion: The Bomber Jacket (opens in new window)
Sara Abraham discusses how the bomber jacket symbolized the shift from practicality to aesthetics in fashion.
(PDF file) Oscar de la Renta: The History Behind the Boutique Label (opens in new window)
Brook Lindzon studies a 1970s Oscar de la Renta jumpsuit and the history behind boutique collections
(PDF file) Labels in the FRC (opens in new window)
Dr. Ingrid Mida examines designer labels from the Designer Archive and highlights the history of labels in fashion.
(PDF file) Thinking of Spring Flowers (opens in new window)
Inspired by the hopefulness of Spring, Dr. Ingrid Mida highlights floral patterned dresses in the FRC.
(PDF file) Making History: Inspired by Courréges (opens in new window)
Shira Yavor recreates a 1960s raincoat designed by André Courrèges.
(PDF file) Velvet: Comfort or Culture? (opens in new window)
Prompted by personal experiences, Rehab Patel performs a close reading of a 1970s Afghani dress to learn how clothing influences cross-cultural identity and belonging for Afghani-Canadians.
(PDF file) A Study of a Ballet Costume from Symphony in C (opens in new window)
Teresa Adamo takes a look at how a plain white tutu donated by the National Ballet of Canada reveals more than meets the eye.
(PDF file) Mulhallen's Muglers (opens in new window)
Annika Waddell questions if the pre-appointed biography or personality of a garment imposed by a designer ever intersects with the identity of the consumer.
(PDF file) Portrait of a Little Black Dress (opens in new window)
By analyzing a black Pauline Trigère cocktail dress, Gabrielle Trach explores the history of the LBD.
(PDF file) The Kathleen Kubas Collection (opens in new window)
Dr. Ingrid Mida details the story of how the FRC received its largest donation of over 700 garments and accessories from the family of Kathleen Kubas, a former model, actress, and schoolteacher in Toronto.
(PDF file) Case Study of A Ballet Costume Headpiece From Raymonda (opens in new window)
By interviewing the original wearer, Julia Brucculieri learns more about the National Ballet of Canada's production of Raymonda, Act III.
(PDF file) Is There a Future for Fur? (opens in new window)
Yuting Tang takes a close look at a mink fur collar and the association of fur and luxury within a Canadian context while considering animal rights.
(PDF file) A Mugler Mystery (opens in new window)
Tori Hopgood explores the idea of clothing as a symbol of power by performing object-based research on a 1990s Mugler skirt suit.
(PDF file) An Analysis of a Women’s Frock Coat by Rei Kawakubo (opens in new window)
By analyzing a 1990s frock coat, Jordan Nguyen explores Rei Kawakubo's continuing influence on design, Japanese design aesthetics, and gender neutrality.
(PDF file) Haori: An Aspect of Culture
Benedikte Goronga compares and contrasts the materiality between two Japanese haori jackets, one belonging to the FRC, and the other from a privately owned collection.
(PDF file) Elite Syncopations Leotards (opens in new window)
Teresa Adamo studies the construction and role of two seemingly identical ballet costumes.
(PDF file) Inside a Dolce & Gabbana Fur Coat (opens in new window)
Millie Yates studies the remarkable design elements of a 1990s Dolce & Gabbana jacket, including the hand-painted leather.
(PDF file) The Enduring Fedora (opens in new window)
Millie Yates explores the history and legacy of the fedora through object analysis of a felted-gray hat by Phillip Treacy.
(PDF file) Issey Miyake Trousers (opens in new window)
To learn how a pair of Pleats Please trousers by Issey Miyake fits into his design vernacular, Fedlande Fenelon and Eiro Issakidis take a deep dive into the designer's techniques and influences over the course of his forty-year career.
(PDF file) Collage Through Feminism and Textile (opens in new window)
Tricia Crivellaro illuminates the work of textile designer, Makiko Minagawa and seeks to understand how feminism can be evoked through a blanket coat created by the artist.
(PDF file) Labels in the FRC (opens in new window)
Dr. Ingrid Mida examines designer labels from the Designer Archive and highlights the history of labels in fashion.
(PDF file) The Kathleen Kubas Collection (opens in new window)
Dr. Ingrid Mida details the story of how the FRC received its largest donation of over 700 garments and accessories from the family of Kathleen Kubas, a former model, actress, and schoolteacher in Toronto.
(PDF file) Of Hats and History (opens in new window)
Dr. Ingrid Mida looks at the meaning of hats as a signifier of status, power and class.
