September 22, 2015

The first large-scale exhibition of the Robert & Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection, highlighting more than 250 years of international high style, will be on display this fall in the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery from October 2 to December 12. Our museum-quality collection, which has previously only been open to the public on select occasions, is one of the finest and oldest research collections in the country and features more than 14,000 notable garments, accessories and textiles. Immortal Beauty: Highlights from the Robert & Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection will feature more than 75 items on display, including garments by Charles James, Gabrielle Chanel, Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Christian Dior, Mary Quant and Elsa Schiaparelli, in addition to showcasing the collection’s historic ties to Drexel University. The exhibition will open with a public reception on Friday, October 2 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm in the Pearlstein Gallery (URBN Annex, 3401 Filbert Street).

Formed in the late 1890s by the University’s founder A.J. Drexel, the collection has long served as an educational resource for Drexel students, and some of the most exquisite items came from the estate of Drexel’s granddaughter, Minnie Drexel Fell Cassatt. Four of her couture garments by makers such as Callot Soeurs and Jacques Doucet, will be on display. The exhibition will also include couture pieces by Philadelphia natives James Galanos and Ralph Rucci, as well as garments worn by women of style such as American socialite Babe Paley and Princess Grace of Monaco. 

Immortal Beauty is being organized by Fox Historic Costume Collection curator Clare Sauro and was made possible through the generous support of the Richard C. von Hess Foundation.

The gallery is free and open to the public Tuesday—Sunday, 11:00am to 6:00pm (URBN Annex, 3401 Filbert Street). A special gallery tour of the exhibition is scheduled for October 15 in conjunction with DesignPhiladelphia.

Click here to read an August 25 Philadelphia STYLE magazine article about the exhibition, or here for more information about the Fox Historic Costume Collection.