We Toured the Art Museum's Hidden, Incredible Fashion Archive | Cincinnati Refined

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Deep within the lower levels of the Cincinnati Art Museum sits the Fashion Archive—an area where the museum’s collection of around 15,000 garments and textiles ranging from the 5th century to today is safely stored. Temperature and humidity controlled and without windows, the facility is filled with movable shelves to pack as much storage into the space as necessary. The shelves move automatically when a control panel is pressed at the end of each row. It's not open to the public, though members of the Cincinnati Art Museum are occasionally invited down to see it on a guided tour. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Inside the shelves, everything from hats to shoes are kept. Preserving these articles of clothing is a tricky business, sometimes resulting in quirky ways to stack and store each piece. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Rows of mannequins line the wall in a corner of the archive. Japanese-made, they reflect the body sizes of women in the 19th century. Cynthia Amneus, Chief Curator, explains that these mannequins are used only when the museum shows 19th-century fashion; garments from that century do not appear on modern mannequins. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Hats are a big part of the collection. Much like the dresses, they're pulled from decades throughout history. Garments and accessories in the archive come from all around the world. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

There are thousands of shoes in many different styles in the archive. Here, Cynthia shows us several examples of dressy footwear. To preserve their shape and sheen, they are stored deliberately in tight, dark shelving. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

<p>Temperature controlled and without windows, the facility is filled with movable shelves to pack as much storage into the space as necessary. The shelves move automatically when a control panel is pressed at the end of each row. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20</p>

Cynthia Amneus is the Chief Curator and Curator of Fashion Arts and Textiles for the Cincinnati Art Museum. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

This hat is titled "Hands Across the Sea" by{ }Bes-Ben (1940s) / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Delicate pieces are laid flat and kept in cushioned drawers to preserve them. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Around 15,000 pieces make up the Fashion Archive. The oldest garments date back to the 1700s. It's not open to the public, though members of the Cincinnati Art Museum are occasionally invited down to see it on a guided tour. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

The Japanese-made 19th-century mannequins are fully adjustable. Cynthia can be seen here adjusting the head of one of them. She wears protective gloves to keep them free of natural body oils. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

There are thousands of shoes in many different styles in the archive. Here, Cynthia shows us several examples of dressy footwear. To preserve their shape and sheen, they are stored deliberately in tight, dark shelving. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

The Fashion Archive sits in the Emery addition to the Cincinnati Art Museum that was built in the 1960s. Before it occupied the space, the Cincinnati Historical Society was located there. Roughly 20 years ago, the CHS moved from the Art Museum and into the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Cynthia removes a dress from the rack that was made in the 1920s. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Fans of patterns, colors, and intricate stitching would be delighted to peruse the Fashion Archive. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Cynthia’s been at the Cincinnati Art Museum since the early 1990s and knows where everything is in the archive. She’s curated traveling exhibitions, lectured throughout the United States, and is published in several scholarly journals. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

There are thousands of shoes in many different styles in the archive. Here, Cynthia shows us several examples of dressy footwear. To preserve their shape and sheen, they are stored deliberately in tight, dark shelving. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Variations in the mannequins are subtle, yet profound. Using the proper mannequin is a science Cynthia has mastered. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

The Japanese-made 19th-century mannequins are fully adjustable. Some dresses require a tighter waistline than the mannequins naturally offer, so Cynthia will raise the torso up to accommodate the smaller size. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Though the Fashion Archive has pieces from around the world, it also has local historic artifacts. This evening and day bodice belonged to Mary Swift, a Cincinnatian, who had it tailor-made in France in the 1870s. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

The dress was made by Charles Frederick Worth in Paris. His signature is emblazoned on an inner strap of the day bodice. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

When handling fragile, one-of-a-kind pieces such as Mary Swift's dress, Cynthia uses gloves. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

The evening and day bodice set is joined by a matching skirt. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

The Fashion Archive sits in the Emery addition to the Cincinnati Art Museum that was built in the 1960s. Before it occupied the space, the Cincinnati Historical Society was located there. Roughly 20 years ago, the CHS moved from the Art Museum and into the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Cynthia’s been at the Cincinnati Art Museum since the early 1990s and knows where everything is in the archive. She’s curated traveling exhibitions, lectured throughout the United States, and is published in several scholarly journals. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

A jacket, belt, and pants set with a neon pig pattern (1969-72) / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Inside the shelves, everything from hats to shoes are kept. Preserving these articles of clothing is a tricky business, sometimes resulting in quirky ways to stack and store each piece. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Not everything in the archive is old. Newer, contemporary pieces have a home there, too. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Around 15,000 pieces make up the Fashion Archive. The oldest garments date back to the 1700s. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Hats are a big part of the collection. Much like the dresses, they're pulled from decades throughout history. Garments and accessories in the archive come from all around the world. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Modern mannequins dressed in contemporary fashion. A polygonal Iris Van Herpen piece can be seen in the foreground. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Hats are a big part of the collection. Much like the dresses, they're pulled from decades throughout history. Garments and accessories in the archive come from all around the world. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

The Fashion Archive is not open to the public, though members of the Cincinnati Art Museum are occasionally invited down to see it on a guided tour. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Rows of mannequins line the wall in a corner of the archive. Japanese-made, they reflect the body sizes of women in the 19th century. Cynthia Amneus, Chief Curator, explains that these mannequins are used only when the museum shows 19th-century fashion; garments from that century do not appear on modern mannequins. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Dress styles range from monochromatic to bright and vivid in color. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Not everything in the archive is old. Newer, contemporary pieces have a home there, too. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

Detail shot of an Iris Van Herpen piece in the Fashion Archive / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 2.18.20

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