Doll Dressing

A groundbreaking exhibition examining the enduring and often unexpected relationship between dolls and fashion opens this fall. _**Doll Dressing**_ centers of on the cultural interplay between dolls and dressed appearance in the 20th and 21st centuries. Featuring more than 170 objects—including fashion dolls displayed alongside full-size garments, accessories, videos, and artworks—the exhibition highlights how the influence of dolls extends far beyond childhood play. Curated by Dr. Colleen Hill, senior curator of costume at MFIT, _**Doll Dressing**_ features designers and labels including Balenciaga, Comme des Garçons, Maison Martin Margiela, Marc Jacobs, Patrick Kelly, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Moschino, Anna Sui, and Undercover, ultimately showing how dolls aren't just toys—they're muses, canvases, and even prototypes for designers. **_Doll Dressing_** poses a compelling and previously overlooked question: How have dolls influenced fashion? While dolls such as Barbie are widely recognized as objects of play, these dolls have historically functioned as powerful transmitters—and even originators—of style. As early as the 14th century, dolls circulated throughout Europe as miniature fashion models, communicating the latest trends in three-dimensional detail. By the early 20th century, dolls were not only reflecting fashion but actively shaping it. Hill defines this phenomenon as "doll dressing," a concept encompassing clothing, accessories, hair, makeup, and even gestures that draw inspiration from dolls. The exhibition ultimately reveals that doll dressing can be both expressive and subversive, offering a means of exploring identity, fantasy, and personal style.