A Visit to FIDM

Saturday, Kathi and I headed downtown to check out the current Motion Picture Costume Exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM).  The Gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday 10-4 and it's free.  The parking is entered on Ninth Street and is also free on weekends.

Unfortunately, they do not let you take photos inside the gallery so I can't post any here.  I found the costumes this year disappointing.  They seemed more ready-to-wear and boring.  FIDM website here Some of the costumes included: Inception, True Grit, Alice in Wonderland, Coco and Stravinsky, Burlesque, and others that I cannot remember.  I understand it takes 50  people a year to put together. 

After the exhibit we went to the FIDM Scholarship store.  In the front of the store they sell clothing, accessories, bridal dresses, magazines, manequins, and various merchandise donated by local designers. Most of the items are under $10.  You have to really look the merchandise over as most has some sort of damage or flaw.   BUT, in the back of the store is where you'll find the fabric that is $1 a yard!  The merchandise varies from day to day and week to week.  Most of the time there are notions, lace, trims, threads, knits, cottons, silks, upholstry fabrics, and zippers.

Sometimes the fabric is wonderful, other times it's junk.  but it's always worth a visit.  Afterwards we went to lunch at Bodega Louise. One of my favorite restaurants in a restored building on Seventh and Grand - just a 2 block walk north of FIDM.  The food is always good and the service is excellent.  It's a bit noisy in there as it is a huge open space with lots of concrete and marble. 

Whenever I leave I eye the dessert counter and think about buying some to take home, but don't....next time I will. 

The front of the restaurant has a deli counter where you can get delicious looking sandwiches to go.... next time.