Skip Navigation

Collection Menu
Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i001.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)
Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i001.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)
Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i001.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i001.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i002.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i002.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i003.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i003.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i004.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i004.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i005.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i005.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i006.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i006.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i007.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i007.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i008.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i008.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i009.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i009.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i010.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i010.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i011.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i011.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i012.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: CTX_E1975i012.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i001.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i001.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i002.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i002.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i003_SL3.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i003_SL3.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i004.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i004.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i005.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i005.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i006.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i006.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i007.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i007.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i008.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i008.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i009.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i009.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i010.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i010.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i011.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i011.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i012.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i012.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i013.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i013.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i014.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i014.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i015.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i015.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i016.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i016.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i017.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

Of Men Only, Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976 (Image: PHO_E1975i017.jpg Brooklyn Museum photograph, 1975)

DOWNLOAD

Of Men Only

DATES Jul. 23, 1976 through Aug. 29, 1976
ORGANIZING DEPARTMENT American Art
  • March 13, 1975 Exhibition: OF MEN ONLY

    Dates: September 18 - November 30, 1975

    Significance: The largest and most inclusive museum exhibition of men’s and boys’ fashions to be held in the United States in over 25 years.

    Scope: More than 300 items of American and European male attire from 1750 to 1975.

    Contents: Dressing gowns/robes, gloves, headwear, hosiery/spats, jackets/coats, lounging jackets, neckwear, nightwear, outer wraps, shirts, shoes, sportswear, suits, suspenders/braces, trousers/breeches, undergarments, waistcoats, walking sticks, wallets.

    Among typical examples are an embroidered court-presentation suit of the late 18th century, a greatcoat and a brocaded dressing gown of the early 19th century, a raccoon coat and a tuxedo of the 1920s, and a Bill Blass suit of 1975.

    Installation: Complete costumes on specially-selected mannequins with historically-researched custom wigs and make-up create a shop window of fashion. Exhibits will also be grouped in categories for ready comparison. Period portraits and furnishings flavor the displays.

    Sources: Mostly from The Brooklyn Museum’s own collections, with additional costumes on loan from the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of the City of New York; The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; the Valentine Museum, Richmond, Va.; and from contemporary designer houses.

    Catalogue: 32 pp., 8x10 inches, in the form of a mail-order catalogue, with descriptive captions and original prices. 33 photographs in full color by a top mail-order photography studio illustrate more than 275 items. Introduction by the Curator of Costumes and Textiles. To be published by The Brooklyn Museum, anticipated price $3.95.

    Credits:
    Exhibition organization and catalogue introduction by Elizabeth Ann Coleman, Curator of Costumes and Textiles, The Brooklyn Museum
    Photography by Vogue Wright New York
    Mannequins, wigs and make-up by Adel Rootstein, London and New York
    Fashions from Bill Blass and PBM, Pierre Cardin, Damon Creations, Eagle Shirts, and others
    Related Activities: A full complement of special events includes lectures by fashion designers; demonstrations by tailors, hairdressers and wig-makers; film showings; and an emphasis on related period collections in the Museum.

    Promotion: A full-scale national publicity campaign will concentrate on Of Men Only both as an individual exhibition and as the initial program of The Brooklyn Museum’s Bicentennial Year.

    Press Photographs: Sets of 8x10 color-corrected transparencies and black-and-white glossy photographs will be available to the press, with extra shots for special purposes. Shooting schedule to be completed between May 13 and June 13.

    Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1971 - 1988. 1975, 006.
    View Original
  • September 15, 1975 OF MEN ONLY, a survey of American and European men’s and boys’ fashions from 1750 to 1975, will be on view in the Robert E. Blum Gallery of The Brooklyn Museum, Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue, from September 18 through January 18, 1976. More than 500 items comprise the largest and most inclusive exhibition of its kind to be held in the United States in over 25 years. Actual costumes are paired in some instances with original mid-l9th and early 20th-century portraits in which they were worn. Admission is free.

    Fully-costumed mannequins and displays of hats, neckwear, shoes, undergarments and other accessories chronicle the changes in male attire from the lavishly embroidered dress of fashionable gentlemen of the mid-l8th century; the somber but exquisitely-detailed early 19th-century frock coat and its descendent, the full-dress suit of the 1920’s; the classic gray-flannel suit of the late forties and early fifties; to the light-hearted and colorful sportswear of recent years.

    Elizabeth Ann Coleman, Curator of Costumes and Textiles at The Brooklyn Museum, organized OF MEN ONLY and wrote the text for the exhibition catalogue.(1). The installation is by Daniel Weidmann, the Museum’s Chief Designer. Most of the garments on display are from the Museum’s own collections, with additional pieces on loan from the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of the City of New York; The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., the Valentine Museum, Richmond, Va., and from contemporary designer houses.

    Opening simultaneously, a small complementary exhibition, OF MEN TOO: DECORATIVE ARTS, consists of about 25 pieces from the Museum’s collection -- furniture, smoking paraphernalia, shaving mugs, and turn-of-the-century commemorative pitchers and mugs. Donald C. Peirce, Assistant Curator of Decorative Arts, organized the show.

    The Brooklyn Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday, noon to 5 pm; holidays, 1 to 5 pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

    The OF MEN ONLY exhibition is made possible through the generous support of the New York State Council on the Arts; and Barney’s, Lightolier, and PBM. Mannequins are supplied and specially adapted by Adel Rootstein of London and New York.
    ------------------------------------------------------
    (1). OF MEN ONLY, 32 pp., 8x10”, in the form of a mail-order catalogue, with descriptive captions and original prices. 33 photographs, all in full color, illustrate more than 300 items. Text by Elizabeth Ann Coleman. Published by The Brooklyn Museum. Paperback, $3.95.
    -------------------------------------------------------
    Catalogues, 8x10 color-corrected transparencies, b&w glossies, and further information available from Herbert Bronstein, Head, or Patricia Hannigan, Assistant, Public Relations, The Brooklyn Museum. (212) 638-5000, ext. 296-7.

    Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1971 - 1988. 1975, 014-15.
    View Original