The Connoisseur's Closet: The Fashion and Jewelry of Marjorie Merriweather Post
The Connoisseur's Closet: The Fashion and Jewelry of Marjorie Merriweather Post offers an intimate exploration of the personal style of Hillwood's founder, Marjorie Merriweather Post, who was a philanthropist, art collector, humanitarian, business executive, and a noted style maven across Washington, D.C., New York City, Palm Beach, and abroad. For the first time in a decade, Hillwood revisits Post’s remarkable fashion collection, highlighting new discoveries, special loans of famous pieces, and Post’s dedication to preservation, all while placing her ensembles within twentieth-century fashion. The exhibition is presented mostly chronologically, beginning with the influence of her mother and aunt, then moving through the Belle Epoque, her young motherhood in the 1920s and 1930s, and her later sartorial choices and designer relationships. Featured highlights include her “Sweet Sixteen Dress” from the D.C. dressmaker Baker, and examinations of designers Eleanora Garnett and Oldric Royce. The exhibit also showcases how Post managed and preserved her wardrobe with custom fabric-covered storage boxes, bespoke racks, and garment covers. Nearly 300 examples of apparel and almost 600 pieces of jewelry and accessories from Hillwood’s collection are on view, spanning from a childhood christening gown to the daytime suits she favored in later years. Contemporary accessory examples that embody Post’s taste are also included to bring the collection into the present.
When: June 5, 2027 through January 9, 2028. The exhibition is open during Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens regular hours.
Tickets: Price information is not available. Check the Hillwood website or contact the venue for admission details and possible timed-entry requirements.
Lineup: The exhibition does not feature a live performer lineup. It is a curated display of garments, jewelry, and accessories from Marjorie Merriweather Post’s personal wardrobe.
Run time: Not specified; visitors can explore the exhibition at their own pace within operating hours.
Ages: No age restrictions are mentioned, but the content is suitable for all audiences interested in fashion, history, and design.
Venue: Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, located at 4155 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Note: A full-color, 200-page book titled *The Fashion and Style of Marjorie Merriweather Post*, authored by Megan J. Martinelli (Hillwood’s curator of apparel, jewelry, accessories, and textiles) with an introduction by Kate Markert (Hillwood’s executive director), will be published in September 2026 in conjunction with the exhibition. The book places Post’s fashion collection within the broader story of American fashion, textile design, and decorative-arts culture.