Fashioning Wonder: A Cabinet of Curiosities explores the fascinating and longstanding connections between cabinets of curiosities and fashion. Also known as wunderkammern, cabinets of curiosities were precursors to the modern museum, and many included examples of clothing. More than 150 garments and accessories represent the breadth of objects collected within the cabinets, and they are further selected to pique curiosity through their rarity, beauty, or originality.

An introductory gallery examines the history of cabinets of curiosities, explaining their significance to the Age of Exploration, their ties to colonialism, and the need to think more critically about contemporary museums and their objects. Within the main gallery, selections are organized into ten themed cabinets that highlight the connections between fashion and the natural world, fine art, human anatomy, and illusion. The immersive exhibition design also allows for interaction with objects, encouraging visitors to identify unusual or obsolete objects and to engage with the sensory appeal of fashion.

Fashioning Wonder: A Cabinet of Curiosities is curated by MFIT Senior Curator of Costume Dr. Colleen Hill.

Image: Mary Katranzou, "Flyphoon" dress, spring 2019. Courtesy Mary Katrantzou.