​Men's Look

Gents Tailor Alberts suit, c. 1975. 

This eye-catching suit was purchased by Benjamin B. Green-Field in India. The ensemble comprises a jacket of raw silk printed in a palmetto pattern in shocking pink, purple, and red, a purple silk skirt woven with gold metallic yarn with fan, leaf, flower, and diagonal stripe brocade, and purple raw silk trousers with needlepoint bands down the sides of the legs and around the waist. Known as the "Mad Hatter" of Chicago for his Bes-Ben hat company, Green-Field wore this ensemble for the last time at the first annual Donors’ Ball held at the Chicago Historical Society on November 17, 1978. Green-Field donated this suit to the Museum, along with numerous Bes-Ben hats and many other items from his personal wardrobe. 

Tiffany & Company Gold Cuff links, c. 1880-1944. 
With the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854, Japan opened for trade with the United States, which introduced Japanese ornamentation and motifs into Western design. Tiffany & Co., an early adopter of Japanese styles, was successful at combining Japanese themes and techniques while using materials that appealed to Western consumers. These beautiful gold cuff links by Tiffany & Co. were gifted to the Museum by Mr. Robert Allerton. 

Women's Look

Christian Lacroix evening gown, fall/winter 1993–94.

In 1993, Marshall Field & Company hosted Christian Lacroix at the Chicago History Museum, where he reprised his Paris runway show on the Museum’s plaza. ​At the conclusion of his visit, Lacroix donated two haute couture ensembles he designed for the fashion show to the Museum's costume collection, including this evening gown with lace jumpsuit, silk chiffon ombré skirt, and beaded flowers on the bodice. Lacroix was also honored by the Costume Committee with their Designer of Excellence Award that year. 

J. & J. Slater women’s shoes, c. 1905. 

These bright pink velvet shoes with rhinestone buckles were made by the American company J. & J. Slater. They were owned and worn by Mrs. Marshall Field, née Delia Spencer, who Marshall Field’s second wife. Spencer and Field were married for only a few months before his death from pneumonia in 1906. Prior to marrying Field, Spencer was married to Arthur Caton from 1876 until his death in 1904. The shoes were gifted to the Museum by Mr. Albert J. Beveridge III. 

Bes-Ben's women’s cone-style crown hat, 1957.

This plastic, buckram, and velvet hat by Bes-Ben of Chicago is covered with red, blue, silver, green, purple polychrome faceted stones of various shapes and sizes. Gifted by Mr. Benjamin B. Green-Field himself, this hat was named “Sputnik.”