FashionSpeak Fridays: Doll Dressing

Discover the fascinating history of dolls as fashion models and their influence on designers, with curator Dr. Colleen Hill. Long before Barbie changed how we play, dolls and fashion shared a history. As early as the fourteenth century, dolls circulated throughout Europe as miniature fashion models, showcasing the latest trends in three-dimensional detail. The first models for many aspiring creatives, dolls have inspired fashion designers from Marc Jacobs to Anna Sui. Join Dr. Colleen Hill, curator of The Museum at FIT’s exhibition "Doll Dressing" and author of the companion book, for an in-depth look at the often unexpected relationship between dolls and fashion. Dr. Colleen Hill is senior curator of costume at The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Since joining FIT, Colleen has curated 20 exhibitions, including "Fashioning Wonder: A Cabinet of Curiosities" (2025), and "Shoes: Anatomy, Identity, Magic" (2022). She has authored or co-authored nine books on fashion. Books will be available for purchase. Doll Style is highly encouraged!