The LSU Textile and Costume Museum’s newest exhibit, “Dressing Louisiana: Histoires de la mode de la Louisiane,” opened to the public Oct. 5 in the Human Ecology building on the LSU campus.
“Dressing Louisiana” displays clothing and artifacts as vibrant as the lives of Louisiana natives. A wide variety of garments, from LSU athletics memorabilia to couture gowns, showcase the state’s diverse fashion culture. Louisiana fashion designers take the spotlight with featured displays for Ray Cole, Geoffrey Beene and Yvonne Lafleur.
Michael Mamp, the museum’s director and curator, shared his insight on the process and inspiration behind the exhibit.
“I have spent considerable time in the collection, touching every object, and as I did so, I was enamored with the many different stories of Louisiana that these objects in the collection told,” Mamp said. “As I became familiar with the objects in the collection, I thought I wanted to share these very unique fashion histories of Louisiana with the public.”
Mamp said the museum focuses on bringing attention to the untold stories of American fashion, women fashion designers, Louisiana and LSU histories.
The Young Men Illinois Club debutante ensemble on display captures one way the museum achieves its mission.
“You’ll see the Young Men Illinois Club, which is one of two historic black krewes in New Orleans,” Mamp said. “Founded in the late 19th century, it persists to this day as a way for there to be space for black debutantes to be presented to society. As far as I know, [this] is the first full ensemble of a Young Men Illinois Club queen in a museum collection ever.”
