American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity

American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity was an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York that ran from May 5 to August 15, 2010. It explored the changing image of the modern woman from the 1890s to the 1940s. It showed the growth and change of women that went throughout the years in the United State's history. The goal was to create a "time machine" of the past to present. This exhibition took around nine months in total to complete. This was due to, for example, creating the pieces of clothing, finding the right people to create the clothing, and preparing the event in general. This was actually the first Costume Institute exhibition from the Brooklyn Museum Costume collection at the Met. The exhibition consisted of ball gowns, cycling suits, evening dresses, riding ensembles, and suits. The exhibition displays the impact of "Gibson Girls", "Screen Sirens", and "Bohemians" on American women. [1]

Focusing primarily on the ideal of what American femininity where the exhibition showcases the revolution of style that symbolizes women's emancipation in social, political, and sexual aspects. The annual Met Gala was held on Monday, May 3, 2010, just before the exhibition's opening.[1]