Ladies high lace-up bicycle boots. The boots are made of leather and black fabric with metal hooks and buckles. The leather sole of each boot is stamped with the manufacturer’s logo:  “HEFFELFINGER” over three intersecting bicycle wheels. Made by the North Star Shoe Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the 1890s and worn by Miss Vivian Grace Gibson of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Miss Gibson became an attorney in 1929, practiced law, ran for City Council and became a land patent attorney for the State of Minnesota in 1943.

Bicycle knickers designed and worn by Peter A. Schaub of the Saint Paul tailoring firm Schaub Brothers, Inc., circa 1884. The knickers are made of fine English check worsted with doeskin cloth cuffs. The Schaub Brothers firm opened in 1887 and closed in 1970.

Red cotton hat with white polka dots. Worn by Will Steger on his 1986 Steger International Polar Expedition, where Steger, along with Minnesotans Ann Bancroft and Paul Schurke, trekked by dogsled to the North Pole. This month marks the 25th anniversary of this historic expedition.

Steger and members of the original team will speak at the History Center on Tuesday, May 17, 7 p.m.

For nearly 100 years after its founding in 1886, the Munsingwear Company was known for its innovations in both style and manufacturing techniques and materials. The largest producer of branded underwear in the U.S., it was also the largest employer of women in Minnesota. Curator Linda McShannock explores the company’s numerous “firsts” over the course of its 100 year history, embodied by the slogan “Don’t say underwear – say Munsingwear”

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Fashion trends have a tendency to come and go. A prime example is this “Daisy Duke” ensemble, retailed at the M.R. Hip Hop Shop in Minneapolis in 1994. Patterned after the cut-off denim shorts made famous by actress Catherine Bach on the early 1980s television hit The Dukes of Hazzard, the look made a brief resurgence in the mid-1990s, primarily due to the massive success of the hit single “Dazzey Duks” by hip hop artist Duice in 1993.

White wool cuirass bodice with silk floral embroidery. Owned by Mrs. C. J. Winton, Minneapolis, Minnesota, circa 1879-82.

Floral brocade eyelet lace boot with a french heel rimmed with silver trim. Size 4 1/2 or 5. Circa 1900.

White cotton lawn dress with sweetheart neckline, slight blouson at center front, and elbow-length set-in sleeves.  The bodice and skirt are elaborately trimmed with Irish crochet and floral satin stitch embroidery. Circa 1910.

A pair of heels perfect for holiday parties. From the Society’s footwear collection, these black satin pumps are embellished with glimmering silver leather. Worn at the debut of the donor’s mother, Hazel Thompson Power, in St. Paul in 1911. The fan and evening coat worn with these shoes at the debut ball are also in the collection. Size 2 1/2 or 3. Circa 1911.

When Carnival returned in 1917, people from Schuneman’s and Evan’s Department Store celebrated in style! This was the group’s marching uniform. Imagine a whole bunch of people wearing this coming toward you…

Yellow heavy wool coat and knickers style pants with blue and white polka dots and black stripes. The coat front fastens with four buttons and a self-belt with two buttons. The letters “S&E”  (Schuneman’s and Evan’s Department Store) are on the left sleeve. Coat label reads, “Genuine Summit Mackinaw coat.”  The pants fasten with six buttons inside waistband. Circa 1917.