Dressing the Dream Factory: ADRIAN at the ASU FIDM Museum
By Giovanna Salas
This article is part of Free in Los Angeles, Heart of Hollywood Magazine's series on the museums across the region that open their doors at no charge.
For a magazine devoted to the heart of Hollywood, few exhibitions this autumn are more fitting than this one. ADRIAN: Designing Hollywood, Dressing America, at the ASU FIDM Museum in downtown Los Angeles, brings together more than 50 rare ensembles and accessories, according to the museum. Admission is free, and no tickets or reservations are required.
The Designer Behind the Silver Screen
Gilbert Adrian (1903–1959), known simply as Adrian, designed costumes for more than 200 productions, including The Wizard of Oz, according to Arizona State University. The exhibition highlights how his work helped turn Joan Crawford into a fashion icon and dressed Jean Harlow in bias-cut glamour. In 1942, the university notes, Adrian opened his own couture salon on Wilshire Boulevard, bringing Hollywood glamour directly to American women.
Photo Courtesy: ASU FIDM Museum's exhibition ADRIAN
About the Museum
In 2023, FIDM joined Arizona State University's Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. According to the museum, its collection holds some 15,000 pieces spanning more than 400 years of fashion history.
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Plan Your Visit
On view: August 28 to December 12, 2026.
Admission: Free. No tickets or reservations required.
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed November 26 and 27.
Address: 919 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90015.
Parking: $10, with the entrance on 9th Street.
Website: https://asufidmmuseum.asu.edu
Details were checked against Arizona State University and Time Out Los Angeles in September 2026. Hours, admission policies and exhibition dates are set by the museum and may change, so please confirm on the official website before you go.
Sources
ASU FIDM Museum: https://asufidmmuseum.asu.edu
ASU Events, ADRIAN: Designing Hollywood, Dressing America: https://asuevents.asu.edu/event/adrian-designing-hollywood-dressing-america
Time Out Los Angeles, August 26, 2026: https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/news/this-new-l-a-fashion-exhibition-will-spotlight-one-of-hollywoods-most-iconic-golden-age-designers-and-its-totally-free-082626
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