The Illinois State University Lois Jett Historical Fashion Collection opened its spring semester exhibit, “Lights, Camera, Fashion,” with a presentation and reception in Turner Hall, highlighting the evolution of Hollywood style through student-led curation.
Dresses on display at the “Lights, Camera, Fashion” exhibit.
Founded in 1962, the Lois Jett Historical Fashion Collection houses more than 2,000 garments and artifacts used to support instruction across campus.
The latest exhibit, curated and installed by student interns, explores red carpet fashion and celebrity influence across decades of film and entertainment.
Artifact manager Katie Ibsen said the collection continues to serve as both an academic resource and a hands-on learning space for students in fashion merchandising and related programs.
“This is ‘Lights, Camera, Fashion,’ and it’s about Hollywood through the decades,” Ibsen said. “We try to recreate looks similar to what would have been worn on the red carpet, especially at award ceremonies like the Oscars and the Grammys.”
The exhibit features three primary vignettes centered on iconic figures, including Dolly Parton, Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly. Each display pairs garments from the collection with imagery and accessories to emulate signature styles.
The Parton section highlights 1970s fashion, including knit dresses, denim separates and bold accessories reflective of the performer’s stage persona. Ibsen noted the mixed pieces from different decades.
“Overlapping decades is very much the reality of fashion history,” Ibsen said.
A display inspired by Monroe includes garments from the 1930s through the 1960s, emphasizing the actress’s association with bias-cut gowns and glamorous evening wear. Though some pieces predate her career, Ibsen said the styles remained influential throughout Hollywood.
The Kelly vignette showcases the structured elegance of 1950s fashion with a bell skirt silhouette, gloves and a matching bolero jacket. Kelly’s transition from actress to royalty also contributed to her lasting influence on fashion.
Student interns Ellie Popovich and Ellie Stoltz curated the exhibit, while interns Emma Irwin and Brooklynn Leopoldo led installation efforts. The exhibit opened with a reception where interns discussed their research, design choices and the process behind building the display.
Ibsen said the program encourages students to take creative ownership of exhibits by developing topics based on their interests.
An outfit that is a part of the spring fashion exhibition.
“We want them to be able to identify an interest and then develop that interest into something like this,” Ibsen said.
The exhibit also incorporates reference materials from the collection’s library, including books on film and fashion, as well as archival sewing patterns dating back to the late 19th century. These materials provide additional historical context and support student research.
Beyond aesthetics, the exhibit reflects practical training in merchandising and display design. Ibsen said the process mirrors real-world retail environments, where presentation plays a key role in attracting audiences.
“Creating displays like this and the window displays you see out in the hallway are transferable skills,” Ibsen said.
All garments in the exhibit come from the collection, though Ibsen discussed that past exhibits have incorporated borrowed or personal items when relevant to a theme.
The “Lights, Camera, Fashion” exhibit will remain on display in Turner Hall throughout the semester, offering visitors a glimpse into Hollywood and the educational work happening behind the scenes.
Jorge Maciel is a news and features reporter and photographer for The Vidette. Maciel can be contacted at jlmacie@ilstu.edu.
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