(Left) Timeline: Afternoon dress, ca. 1877. American. Silk. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Theodore Fischer Ells, 1975 (1975.227.4)
(Right) Interruption: Alexander McQueen (British, 1969–2010). “Bumster” Skirt, fall/winter 1995–96, edition 2010. Courtesy of Alexander McQueen

(Left) Timeline: Walking Dress, probably American, ca. 1885. Gift of David L. Andrews, 1976 (1976.254.6a, b)
(Right) Interruption: Yohji Yamamoto (Japanese, born 1943). Coat, fall/winter 1986–87. Purchase, Gould Family Foundation Gift, in memory of Jo Copeland, 2014 (2014.455)

(Left) Timeline: Mrs. Arnold (American). Dinner dress, ca. 1895. Silk. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Sally Ingalls, 1932 (2009.300.643a, b)
(Right) Interruption: Comme des Garçons (Japanese, founded 1969). Ensemble, fall/winter 2004–5. Gift of Comme des Garçons, 2020

(Left) Timeline: Morin Blossier (French). Riding jacket, 1902. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Gift of Miss Irene Lewisohn, 1937 (C.I.37.44.3a)
(Right) Interruption: Nicolas Ghesquière (French, born 1971) for Louis Vuitton (French, founded 1854). Ensemble, spring/summer 2018. Courtesy of Collection Louis Vuitton

(Left) Timeline: Evening dress, ca. 1928. Probably American. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Richard Martin and Harold Koda, 1992 (1992.399a, b)
(Right) Interruption: John Galliano (British, born Gibraltar, 1960). Dress, spring/summer 1997, edition 2008. Gift of John Galliano, 2012 (2012.122)

(Left) Timeline: Elsa Schiaparelli (Italian, 1890–1973). Evening jacket, winter 1938–39. Gift of Mrs. Pauline Potter, 1950 (C.I.50.34.2)
(Right) Interruption: Yves Saint Laurent (French, born Algeria, 1936–2008). “Broken Mirrors” Ensemble, fall/winter 1978–79 haute couture. Courtesy of Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris © Yves Saint Laurent 

(Left) Timeline: Christian Dior (French 1905–1957). “Bar," spring/summer 1947. Gift of Mrs. John Chambers Hughes, 1958 (C.I.58.34.30); skirt, spring/summer 1947, edition 1969. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Christian Dior, 1969 (C.I.69.40)
(Right) Interruption: Junya Watanabe (Japanese, born 1961). Ensemble, fall/winter 2011–2012. Courtesy of Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons 

(Left) Timeline:  Cristóbal Balenciaga (Spanish, 1895–1972). Dress, fall/winter 1958–59 haute couture. Gift of Rosamond Bernier, 1973 (1973.58.1a, b)
(Right) Interruption: Nicolas Ghesquière (French, born 1971) for Louis Vuitton (French, founded 1854). Dress, spring/summer 2018. Courtesy of Collection Louis Vuitton 

(Left) Timeline: Gabrielle Chanel (French, 1883–1971). Suit, spring/summer 1963 haute couture. Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009, Gift of Jane Holzer, 1977 (2009.300.525a–c)
(Right) Interruption: Karl Lagerfeld (French [born Germany], 1933–2019) for House of Chanel (French, founded 1913). Suit, spring/summer 1994. Courtesy of CHANEL Patrimoine Collection, Paris 

(Left) Timeline: Rudi Gernreich (American, born Austria, 1922–1985). Dress, fall/winter 1968–69. Purchase, Funds from various donors, Isabel Shults Fund, and Millia Davenport and Zipporah Fleisher Fund, 2005 (2005.261)
(Right) Interruption: Azzedine Alaïa (French, born Tunisia, 1935–2017). Dress, spring/summer 2003. Courtesy of Alaïa

(Left) Timeline: Jean Paul Gaultier (French, born 1952). Dress, fall/winter 1984– 85. Purchase, Friends of The Costume Institute Gifts, 2010 (2010.155a–c)
(Right) Interruption: Charles James (American [born Great Britain], 1906–1978). “Tulip” Evening dress, 1949. Gift of Elizabeth de Cuevas, 2015 (2015.552) 

(Left) Timeline: Issey Miyake (Japanese, born 1938). “Flying Saucer” Dress, spring/summer 1994. Courtesy of Issey Miyake
(Right) Interruption: Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo (Spanish, 1871–1949). “Delphos” Dress, ca. 1930. Promised Gift of Sandy Schreier (L.2018.61.29a–c)

(Left) Timeline: Viktor & Rolf (Dutch, founded 1993). Ensemble, spring/summer 2005. Centraal Museum, Utrecht, Netherlands.
(Right) Interruption: Madeleine Vionnet (French, 1876–1975). Evening dress, 1939. Gift of Mrs. Harrison Williams, 1952 (C.I.52.24.2a, b)

(Left) Timeline: Iris Van Herpen (Dutch, born 1984). Dress, fall/winter 2012–13 haute couture. Gift of Iris Van Herpen, in honor of Harold Koda, 2016 (2016.185)
(Right) Interruption: Charles James (American [born Great Britain], 1906–1978). Ball Gown, 1951. Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Coulson, 1964 (2009.300.1311)


All photos © Nicholas Alan Cope