Exhibition Program: Inside George Washington’s Wardrobe
Through letters, paintings and surviving garments, George Washington’s wardrobe reveals layers of complex production and meaning. From transatlantic ordering networks to intentional choices in fabric and style, Washington’s dress was carefully designed – military uniforms and lace jabots alike. Each garment played a key role in shaping his public image as commander in chief and the first president, while also expressing an emerging American identity. By examining these materials, this lecture by Summer Anne Lee will show how clothing served as a powerful political tool.
About the Summer Anne Lee
Summer Anne Lee is a Brooklyn-based fashion historian and adjunct instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she received a master’s in fashion and textile studies: history, theory, museum practice. Lee began researching the history of presidential dress in 2020 and is the author of Presidential Fashion: An Illustrated History (forthcoming: Yale University Press).
About the Display
Commemorating America’s 250th birthday, Treasures from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection spotlights George Washington’s legacy through historical letters, maps, prints and ephemera that document the first president’s role in shaping the permanent U.S. capital.
How to Participate
This program is free and will take place online. To participate, please register in advance to reserve your space. Once you have registered, we will email you a link and details for joining on Zoom. Simply follow that link at the time the program starts (12 p.m. EDT / 9 a.m. PDT). When you register, you can also request to receive a reminder email one day before the program with the link included.