Skip to content

On December 8, the Evanston History Center will only be open for self-guided tours and exhibit viewing from 1-4 PM. There will be no guided tours.

ReFashioning History Logo, alternates between the words Fashion History to the words ReFashioning History
Annual Exhibition and Opening Night Soiree
at the Evanston History Center

Exhibition extended through Oct 18 for Chicago Fashion Week

Opening Night 2024 Highlights:

The inaugural reFashioning History Opening Night was on June 27, 2024. Chicagoland fashion designers and creators took inspiration from a curated selection of objects from our extensive, historically significant costume collection and created a new look of their own. Four winners were presented with prizes as part of a fashion design showcase and juried competition.

See the winners! The reFashioning History Exhibition is on display now through September 2024 at the Dawes House.

Thursday, June 27, 2024
Cocktails and Heavy Hors D’Oeuvres
on the Lakefront Terrace
Catering by: The Caterist
Music by: Ezequiel Navarro and Abigail Stoner
Awards Presentation: Tommy Walton, faculty member of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, cofounder of the design duo Price Walton and Reality TV Chef on FOX-TV’s MasterChef Cooking Competition

About the Evening:
Opening Night guests immersed themselves in an intimate fashion showcase, where featured designers shared insights into their deeper understanding of the fusion of history and contemporary design followed by a preview of the Center’s new fashion exhibition. Guests also had the chance to indulge in stylish refreshments while enjoying live music featuring Ezequiel Navarro (oboe) and Abigail Stoner (harp) and the ambiance of the historic lakefront terrace.

Designer Finalists included:
Kaine Bautista (winner), Dunja Cicek, Jess Crane, Lauren Evans, Ameerah Floyd, Abeline Glenzinski & Riley Trzeciak (winner), Gregory Graham (winner), Madeleine Ibach, Grace Koehler, Aurora Liston, Gnivol Loving and Maribel Melanson (winner).

From Concept to Design:
Evanston History Center invited fashion and costume designers from Chicagoland to take their inspiration from a curated selection of objects from our extensive, historically significant costume collection and create a new look of their own. Winning creations will be awarded and showcased on the evening of Thursday, June 27, 2024, beginning at 7:00 PM.

A Timeless Costume Collection:
With more than 20,000 garments, textiles, and accessories dating from the early nineteenth century to the present, Evanston History Center’s Costume Collection is one of the largest in the state of Illinois. The Collection spans the breadth of Evanston’s history, including garments and accessories for men, women, and children. Collection materials focus on clothing and accessories worn by Evanston residents from all walks of life.

The Collection includes objects from significant designers, such as Dior, Callot Soeurs, Lucien Lelong, House of Worth, Jon Weston, Pucci, and Liberty’s of London. However, as befits the sensibilities of Evanstonians, the majority of the Collection includes objects from other sources. These include the works of lesser-known European designers, the works of American designers including Evanston designers, the products of local department stores and businesses, and clothing made at home by Evanston residents for themselves and their families.

The Evanston History Center regularly displays objects from the Costume Collection in exhibitions and also makes loans to local institutions.

Your Impact:
Proceeds from reFashioning History go towards supporting collections care and the Evanston History Center’s mission to collect, preserve and interpret the rich history of the City of Evanston and all its people through exhibits, educational programs, and research facilities.

Thank you generous sponsors!

ReFashioning History 2024 was made possible by these generous sponsors:

Haute Couture Sponsor:

Hagerty logo

Pret-a-Porter Sponsors:

Evanston Community Bank and Trust

Susan and Dave Turner

Katie Trippi

The Struve Family Women

Style Sponsor:

Hannah Handmade

Additional support provided by:

Board of Directors for the Evanston History Center

Cloth + Home

Evanston Arts Council

MMMM…Enjoy. Wines

Northwestern’s Office of Neighborhood and Community Relations

Vogue Fabrics

Josh and Julie Chernoff

Hawk & Sole

Len Koroski and Deborah Geismar

Gary Kaufman

REBELLION by Stephanie Wheat

FlowersFlowers

Accents Plus

Back To Top