What Seattleites wear—past and present—reveals something captivating about the city’s sartorial spirit. Seattle Style: Fashion/Function highlights how elegance and practicality co-existed and converged in Seattle wardrobes, providing new insights into local clothing ranging from couture to grunge aesthetics.
The most significant exhibit to date featuring Pacific Northwest regional style, and the most prominent showcase of MOHAI’s clothing collection, Seattle Style: Fashion/Function explores the sensibility of Seattle fashion, bringing together men’s and women’s fashions from the mid-1800s to today.
Seattle Style: Fashion/Function is presented by Nordstrom.
Curated by MOHAI’s Collections Specialist for Costumes and Textiles Clara Berg, Seattle Style: Fashion/Function showcases the complex history of clothing in Seattle, including its innovations, its influence, and its connections to the broader fashion world.
No single style defines this region. Instead, when we look at the clothing made and worn here, enduring themes emerge: influences of the weather, ambition, a casual nature, and a spirit of people forging a new path. Alone, few of these are unique to Seattle. But when woven together, a distinct local story arises.
The garments and accessories featured in Seattle Style: Fashion/Function offer captivating insights into the city’s sartorial spirit. Here are a few of their stories:
Explore our newest exhibit, featuring what Seattleites wear—past and present—in an intimate, docent-led tour of Seattle Style: Fashion/Function.
Learn more about our docent’s favorite garments and deepen your knowledge of Seattle style. Tours available by advance reservation weekday afternoons and Saturdays.
Capacity: 15 people
Availability: Monday–Friday, 1–4 pm and Saturday, 11 am–4 pm
Additional fees: $30/tour
Advance reservations: 2 weeks
Many thanks to all the individuals who advised and participated in the development of the Seattle Style: Fashion/Function exhibit.
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