Here is the perfect addition to your fashion library as well as an amazing gift!
I don’t know why books that accompany exhibitions are called catalogues when they give us wonderful insights into our history….this book does that to perfection! It is the companion of the current (through July 27, 2025) exhibition at the Chicago History Museum. The exhibition features 70 pieces from the huge world class costume collection (over 50,000 items!) at CHM. Just a very small sample chosen by 4 past curators of the collection. It features a short essay by each of the curators.
The cover gives you a preview of what is housed in our extraordinary collection….from Abe Lincoln’s top hat to one of only three Paul Poiret Sorbet garments in the world (too fragile to be shown but the illustration is featured see below illustration) to a Judith Leiber minaudière featuring the iconic Marshall Field’s clock to Sally Rand’s fans! The reason for the book and exhibition is to celebrate the 50 years of the Costume Council!
Ms. Jeanne B. Heinzelman, née Jeanne Brucker to the 1949 Passavant Cotillion
About the Costume Council…..”Founded by Mrs. Philip K. Wrigley in April 1974, the purpose of the Costume Council is to support the Chicago History Museum as a leader in the documentation and interpretation of the history and the art of fashion. Through the Costume Council’s efforts, the Museum has been able to maintain and grow a thriving collection. The support the Council provides helps the Chicago History Museum care for, conserve, interpret, and display items in the costume collection to further our understanding of history through clothing. The Council also generously supports the Museum’s costume-based exhibitions and is proud to present what has grown to be one of the world’s premier collections, with pieces dating from the eighteenth century to present.”
Why you might ask is this personally meaningful to me, here is why….I’ve been involved (on and off) with the Costume Council for all of those 50 years serving in many roles from Acquisition Chair, to producing the hugely successful Donors Balls, to Historian and as a two term President of the group. But my involvement goes back even further….actually to before I was born, my mother’s first job when she came to Chicago was at the CHM where she worked with its first curator, Phyllis Healy. And guess what I worked with Mrs. Healy while I was in high school, my assignment, categorizing the glove collection!
My quote in the catalogue…
“Having been involved in most of the 50 year history of the Costume Council of CHM and having served as a two term president, I’ve seen many changes, many blockbuster exhibitions and various successful events…what remains is the deep rooted dedication of a group of enthusiastic members whose responsibility is to support the world class costume collection by fund raising and to preserve the collection’s visibility. I am delighted to say this hasn’t wavered but has become stronger through the years. Bravo Costume Council….bravo!”
As you know, I host the monthly nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club and have had three of the participating former curators talk about their books (not CHM publications)…and I had the pleasure to work with each of them while they were at CHM….Elizabeth Jachimowicz, Timothy Long and Petra Slinkard. I profiled their books on this blog! I also worked with Virginia Heaven both at CHM and as colleagues at Columbia College Chicago.
I was recently in conversation with Jessica Pushor, Collection Manager, and one of the editors of the catalogue, for one of our Book Club monthly meetings. Her extensive knowledge of fashion history and of this one of a kind collections is extraordinary. She is always very gracious in answering my research questions and hosting visiting designers and other notable fashion personalities.
I end by saying get the book and get to the Chicago History Museum to see the exhibition….cheers to the next 50 years!
The Dressed in History catalogue is now available to purchase, both in person at the Museum Store and online at this link: https://shop.chicagohistory.org/products/dressed-in-history
Links I think you will enjoy….
•Dressed in History website: https://www.chicagohistory.org/exhibition/dressed-in-history-a-costume-collection-retrospective/
•Past CHM costume exhibit catalogues online for free: https://www.chicagohistory.org/costume-exhibition-catalogues/
•View images of costume objects, photographs, and ephemera: https://images.chicagohistory.org/costume-and-textiles-collection/
•Research center information on the fashion archive at CHM: https://libguides.chicagohistory.org/costume
Our inspiration, Sally Schwartz, Founder of Randolph Street Market.
Raw amber
All three photos from Pinterest photo credit unknown.
The necklaces in different pairings, I would wear them all together.
Her amber ring collection on my finger……
Some of my pieces almost always worn together, some from Barbara and others collected, over the 15 years of its existence, at 
My faceted collection, the top piece is my Grandmother’s piece, the middle is multi-colored from St. Petersburg and the bottom piece one of my 
The three photos are from Pinterest photo credit unknown.
A necklace from the talented hands of 
Made especially for me by Margaret Buckman several years ago, it includes many of my broken necklaces pieces along with some from the designer. It is a huge statement piece and I wear it often usually with my embroidered jacket from my Moscow trip. It is one of my most favorite necklaces.
Isn’t it glorious….when I find my Russian trip photos I’ll show you it being restored. Photos from Pinterest photo credit unknown.
A vintage card (you can find lots at Randolph Street Market) with old fashion bicycles.
Looks like a perfect day for a picnic. Not only can you find the right bicycle but you can find all the “fixings” for your picnic as well at RSM. All you need is a beautiful setting, some yummy food (yes, you can also get some goodies at the Market!) and good friends. Chicago and all the suburbs have wonderful spots to picnic, or go to Ravinia for one of the fabulous concerts, Harbor Country or neighboring Wisconsin for all their summer events…you can picnic every weekend through October.
Two opaline sconces on one of the walls, this wall is on the side of my French daybed. You can see a little peek of one of my early needlepoint pieces, actually, Ruth drew the violets (her favorite flower) and I needlepointed it and framed in in an antique frame. Needlepoint with be a multi posting in the future. These sconces can be put together and form a chandelier. In my mind, I think we purchased these a zillion years ago at a Lake Forest Antique Show. They are two of my favorite things.
A close up of one of the sconces.
A companion chandelier hangs over my desk, where I write nenasnotes. The cord is covered in shirred apricot silk taffeta. You can see an oil on wood painting in a distressed ornate gilt frame which I look at each time I sit at my desk, and, of course, books that are on a vintage bamboo shelf, one of many, on my window ledge. The painting and shelf purchased at the Randolph Street Market. The April market is this Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and 30 from 10 to 5 
The remains of Mom’s blue collection, some opaline some milk glass most collected many, many years ago others I have recently added, these grouped together on top of one of my Chinoiserie file cabinets.
Here a great example of the multitude of shades of blue (not gray!!!) in opaline and milk glass. Both vases are handpainted and again from Randolph Street Market. The box predates RSM.
An apricot opaline base for a tiny lamp which sits on top of books, of course, it does! I imagine it was once a vase or candle holder, probably a pair. It has always been a lamp to me. The piece to the left is a beaded handpainted fabric and barely visable behind is a portion of a heavily appliqued lace curtain, both from RSM. My home is mostly green but I have accented it with shades of apricot as well as picking up colors from my paisley shawl collection and the pastels in my vintage Chindia rugs.
A vignette of a portion of my green opaline collection. The tussie mussie holder encases an antique lace dollie and silk violets. Behind it is a collection of candle holders and the water color is from my trip to Russia. Under all a vintage handmade crazy quilt, another collection. I have a couple of full quilts as well as many remnants. All from the Randolph Street Market. Perhaps this might inspire you to mix and match your collections…as you know Victoriana is a passion of mine and the Victorians always felt more is more!!!! I most certainly agree. I think my opaline collection is what led me to start collecting Jadeite which I use as my everyday dishes and have posted an image of some of it on my kitchen shelves. You can find reams and reams of information on Jadeite, (which was cheap as chips when it was first manufactured and now commands very high prices, but you can find all manner of Jadeite at all prices at RSM), but not much on opaline, I couldn’t find a single book on the subject!!! Do let me know if you know of some.
Very unusual color for opaline, a putty, handpainted with my favorite flower, lily of the valley. The small vase is a celadon green it also handpainted with lily of the valley. Both are one of a pair. The larger pair sits on either side on top of my breakfront and the small ones are placed in front of the lusters on top of my fireplace.
Another pair, this time handpainted with beautiful English rose buds, forget me knot and lily of the valley…three of my favorite all on one vase, bonus! You can barely see the gilt dots at the base and around the top. They are on either side of the top of the drawer portion of the breakfront and hold dried tree hydrangea.
A close up of the painting…I love its three-dimensional effect. All the above vases I have gotten at the Randolph Street Market and they have been collected over the years.