Dress Codes
Opens May 22, 2022, Members-only Preview May 21
The Autry in Griffith Park
About the Exhibition
Dress Codes is about what we wear, how we wear it, and why. Visitors can explore how the clothing in our closets have long and often surprising histories, unpacking cultural histories of icons of western style
The exhibition is organized around six enduring icons of western style: blue jeans, plaid shirt, fringed jackets, aloha shirt, China Poblana dress, and the cowboy boot. Join us for a fun and subversive look at what our clothes have to say about Western identities.
Highlights (Click image for details)

The team is taking measurements of the clothing to build over fifty custom mannequins for the Dress Codes Exhibition.

Can’t Bust ‘Em denim jeans recovered from a mine in Goldfield, NV, circa 1890. Donated by Jeffrey Spielberg, Autry Museum; 2011.77.6

The collection team is attaching exhibition tags on objects. These tags record object information such as lender, exhibition section, and exhibition numbers.

Aloha shirt made by Avanti and purchased for a wedding anniversary in Hawaii, circa 1995. Courtesy of Elizabeth Short and Michael Freidman

Prior to the exhibition, representatives from conservation, exhibition fabrication, collections, curatorial, and the design department collaborate to determine how to best display these fringe jackets.

Northern Plains jacket worn by William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, circa 1900. Acquisition made possible in part by John E. Bianchi Jr., Autry Museum; 85.1.517

Denim Jordache jacket with custom additions worn by writer, rodeo marshal, and LGBTQ activist Patricia Nell Warren. Donated by Patricia Nell Warren to the Autry Museum; 2010.12.1

Blouse from China Poblana dance ensemble, collected in Mexico, circa 1935. Southwest Museum of the American Indian Collection, Autry Museum; 2010.G.72

Skirt from China Poblana dance ensemble, collected in Mexico, circa 1935. Southwest Museum of the American Indian Collection, Autry Museum; 2010.G.73

Conservators inspect the garment for its overall condition and to see if there are any potential strains that might require extra care.

A mockup was created to determine final placement of objects for the cowboy boot case. The collection team uses sandbags and twill tape to weigh down the boots that cannot stand on their own.

Cowboy boots worn by Gene Autry. Made by Lucchese Boot Company, mid-20th century. Donated by Mr. And Mrs. Gene Autry; 91.221.137
Dress Codes Is Sponsored by:
PALOHEIMO FOUNDATION
ELIZABETH SHORT AND MICHAEL FRIEDMAN
DAVID CARTWRIGHT • MARGUERITE MARSH