Fashion is one of our favorite art forms here at the MFA, and few subjects inspire us more. Cultural influences such as the Ballets Russes and jazz-age star Josephine Baker inspired designers including Paul Poiret, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, Madeleine Vionnet, and Jeanne Lanvin. Paris in the 1920s was not only the epicenter of fashion, but it also stood as a symbol of the freedom and fun of a new, modern era. This sense of joy came as the world emerged from a global pandemic and a war that had sorely taxed resources—drastically affecting the textile industry. The 1920s promised new degrees of freedom, especially for women.

Join MFA Associate Curator Erin Wilson as she examines Parisian Fashion in the Jazz Age and learn about how these societal influences shaped silhouettes—and lives—through costume.

Free for MFA members or with museum admission.