Back to Results

Sweater and skirt ensemble, modeled in the Seattle World's Fair Fashion Pavilion, 1962

Seattle’s 1962 World’s Fair had a Fashion Pavilion with a live fashion show. Four times a day, models paraded across “lily pad” platforms suspended over a perfumed fountain. The show was titled “The Miracle of American Fashion” and produced by Vogue magazine. The outfits were from manufacturers all over the country who were making stylish clothing at price points that would be affordable to middle-class fairgoers. The collection of clothing changed every month—making a total of six different shows during the run of the fair. The Fashion Pavilion focused on contemporary 1962 clothing rather than visions of the future. But the focus on accessible and casual fashion was more forward-thinking than guests may have realized. This teen ensemble from Cleveland brand Bobbie Brooks includes comfortable, practical sweaters that wouldn’t look out of place in a 21st century wardrobe. The original fashion show script described the outfit like this: "By Bobbie Brooks - big noise plaids are blowing up strong, shown here in an all around pleated skirt, teamed with the newest of hooded sweaters - the plus - a versatile white wool under-sweater, by Bobbie Brooks, the skirt and cardigan for $15 each, the pullover for $13.”
ID Number: 1962.2821.14C923
Date: 1962
Physical Description: 1 Ensemble; wool; Sweater: 25 in.H x 18.5 in.W, Skirt: 25.25 in.H x 21. in.W
Credit: MOHAI, 1962.2821.14 C-923