October 24th, 2012 
Katharine Hepburn (Photo Credit: notrecinema.com)
One of New York’s most legendary and fashionable residents, the late actress Katharine Hepburn, is being honored for her iconic style personality both on and off screen in a new exhibit titled Katharine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage and Screen at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center.
Gown designed by Muriel King, from the 1937 RKO movie ‘Stage Door.’ (Photo Credit: lohud.com)
Organized by Kent State University Musuem, the exhibit features fashions Katharine wore throughout her vast film and theater career including personal outfits from publicity and social events, and costumes custom designed by Valentina, Howard Geer, Cecil Beaton and Jane Greenwood. In all, more than 40 original stage costumes and fashion items from some of her most famous performances will be on display–gowns from The Philadelphia Story, Adam’s Rib and Long Day’s Journey into Night, casual attire from Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and On Golden Pond, and unique pieces designed by Margaret Furse, Ruth Morley and Noel Taylor.
In addition to Hepburn’s beautiful costumes and fashions, the Dressed for Stage and Screen exhibit showcases her film posters, stills from on-screen, playbills, costume research notes, sketches and comments from Hepburn herself, which offer insight into the strong role she played in defining her personal style and providing input throughout the garment design process. Hepburn’s personal notes, correspondence, notebook sketches and scripts are part of The Katharine Hepburn Papers, housed exclusively in the Billy Rose Theatre Division at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Katharine Hepburn gowns on display (Photo Credit: MDJOnline.com)
“What women wear today has been immeasurably influenced by Katharine Hepburn’s strength of personality and insistence on wearing what she wanted. She took charge of her career and her public image early in her career and maintained a consistent style.” – Jean Druesedow, exhibition curator and director of the Kent State University Museum.
WHEN: Now through January 12, 2013 during library hours.
WHERE:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
40 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York NY 10016
HOURS:
Monday & Thursday: noon – 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday: noon – 6 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
ADMISSION: Free and open to the public
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 212-642-0142 or visit nypl.org.
