What We Wore: Reveal or Disguise?

November 10, 2023

The current What We Wore exhibit in Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, on display until December 12, features costumes worn for Halloween and masquerade parties.

There is something compelling about wearing costumes — they can both reveal and disguise.

Costumes reflect our personality and interests. Show off our creativity. And let us take on another identity — transforming into someone or something else as we step out of our daily routines.

18th-century-style costume made by the Eaves Costume Company for Henry Ford, 1929. / THF154824, THF154830. Gift of the Clara Ford Estate.

18th-Century Style

In early 1929, Henry Ford asked a New York theatrical costume company to create this colonial-era costume for him. He said he wouldn’t need it until fall.

Ford was planning a celebration for October 21 of that year — one commemorating the 50th anniversary of Edison’s invention of the incandescent light. (The museum and village were formally dedicated that same day.) Did Ford intend to greet his guests at the evening banquet wearing 18th-century-style clothing? After all, they would be entering the museum through a replica of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall.

We’ll never know. Ford’s intentions remain a mystery — he hosted the event wearing contemporary formal dress. Whatever Ford’s plans had been, we do know that he felt the completed garments were too elaborate — even suggesting that some of the embroidery and bead trimmings be removed!

Henry Ford enjoyed wearing costumes from time to time. Dressed in 19th-century clothing, Henry, his wife, Clara, and their guests danced to the quadrilles, schottisches and polkas of Ford’s youth in the ballroom of the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 1926. | THF148956. Gift of the Ford Motor Company.

Rabbit costume worn by a member of the Firestone family, 1956. | THF196404. Gift of Mrs. William Clay Ford, Mrs. John F. Ball and Mrs. William Leatherman.

Masquerading as Rabbits

When Harvey and Elizabeth Firestone purchased an oceanfront summer home in Newport, Rhode Island, in the early 1950s, they joined other wealthy, prominent people in Newport’s exclusive social scene. The White Elephant Ball, a masquerade party held at summer’s end, was one of Newport’s most sought-after soirees.

Elizabeth Firestone’s closet was filled with couture garments by prominent designers — her fashions were the talk of society. She was just as discerning — though more playful — when choosing costumes for the White Elephant Ball. In 1956, the Firestone family’s costumes reflected a whimsical fairyland theme — they came dressed as a family of humanlike rabbits.

Harvey and Elizabeth Firestone’s daughter Anne in her rabbit costume at the White Elephant Ball in 1956. | THF711467. Gift of Mrs. William Clay Ford, Mrs. John F. Ball and Mrs. William Leatherman.

Guests, dressed in masquerade costumes, gathered at venues like the Newport Country Club each year at summer’s end for the White Elephant Ball. | THF710383

Whether for dress-up play or to celebrate Halloween, homemade or store-bought, kids love donning costumes that reflect their personality or interests — letting them dream and use their imaginations.

Pirate costume made by Halco, 1940-1949. | THF196646

Pirate

Taking on the identity of a pirate is appealing — perhaps because pirates get to behave in ways that non-pirates don’t!

Drum Majorette costume, 1950-1955. | THF196359. Gift of Jeanine Head Miller.

Drum Majorette

Costume trends come and go. In the 1950s, drum majorette costumes were popular — kids could imagine themselves leading a marching band through the town!

Snow White costume, about 1960. | THF196315, THF196339. Gift of Mary Sherman.

Snow White

Since the 1930s, kids have enjoyed imagining themselves as a favorite character from Disney’s popular animated films.

Astronaut costume made by Ben Cooper Inc., 1966-1970. | THF196321, THF196343

Astronaut

Many kids dreamed of being an astronaut during the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States in the 1950s and 1960s — a race which effectively culminated in the July 1969 moon landing by American astronauts.

Blue Fairy costume worn by Lisa Korzetz of Southgate, Michigan, about 1966. THF196317, THF196332. Gift of Antoinette Nycek Korzetz.

Blue Fairy

The magical abilities of the Blue Fairy — a spirit who changed Pinocchio from a wooden marionette into a real boy — appealed to kids. Their parents appreciated the safety features of this costume, like flame-retardant fabric and bright colors for nighttime trick-or-treating.

Lisa Korzetz in her Blue Fairy costume with her brother Edward, about 1966. THF710392. Gift of Antoinette Nycek Korzetz.

Witch costume worn by Lisa Korzetz of Southgate, Michigan, 1971-1972. | THF196319, THF196350. Gift of Antoinette Nycek Korzetz.

Witch

Witch costumes are a classic Halloween choice, popular with both children and adults.

Barney-inspired costume worn by Eric Nietering of Dearborn, Michigan, 1993. | THF196354. Gift of Emily Nietering.

Barney

When the children’s television series Barney & Friends debuted in 1992, it became a runaway hit with preschool-age kids. Four-year-old Eric Nietering — like countless other children — was a big fan of Barney, a friendly, huggable T. Rex with an optimistic attitude.

Eric Nietering proudly poses in the Barney costume made by his mother, Emily. / THF710386. Gift of Emily Nietering.

Link costume worn by Isaac Morland of Canton, Michigan, 2021. | THF196415, THF196410, THF196411. Gift of Kate Morland.

Link

Kids love pretending to be characters from their favorite television shows, movies or video games. Isaac Morland chose a disguise as Link, a warrior hero from The Legend of Zelda video game.

Isaac Morland and his brother Simon dressed for Halloween in 2021. / THF710391. Gift of Kate Morland.

Jeanine Head Miller is curator of domestic life.