Skip to Main Content

Wear We Are: Vogue Archive Tips

The Vogue Archive

All-purpose tips

  • Always use the “Advanced Search” feature
  • To limit search results to images, select “Photograph” and “Illustration” from the Document feature menu.
  • Further zero in on images by selecting “Cover” and “Fashion Shoot” from the Document type menu.

Assignment-specific strategies

Advertisements: of a particular era or year / of a particular product

  • Under Document type, select “Advertisement”

A specific photographer: e.g. Edward Steichen (1879-1973) / Irving Penn
(1917-2009) / Helmut Newton (1920-2004) / Richard Avedon (1923-
2004) / Patrick Demachelier (b. 1943) / Peter Lindbergh (b. 1944) / Bruce
Weber (b. 1946) / Annie Leibovitz (b. 1949) / Herb Ritts (1952-2002) /
Steven Meisel (b. 1954)

  • In the Photographer/illustrator field, use the Look up Photographers/illustrators link to find what you’re looking for

A specific designer: e.g. Alexander McQueen 

  • To the right of the top search box, select Designer name – DEN from the drop-down menu. Click the Look up Designers link to populate the search box.

A specific garment: e.g. corset / mourning dress / fur muff / bras / two-piece
suits / wedding dresses /

  • To the right of the top search box, select Fashion item – FASH from the drop-down menu. Then click the “Look up Fashion Items” link to populate the search box.
  • OR: In the Fashion item field, use the Look up Fashion items link to find what you’re looking for

A specific pattern: e.g. houndstooth / herringbone / paisley / argyle / pin
stripes / gingham / seersucker / toile

  • Try an Anywhere search. Limiting by dates and other criteria is recommended. 

A specific textile or material: e.g. lace / sequins / tweed / tulle / silk / chiffon
/ velvet / canvas / cashmere / eyelet / fur / feathers / jacquard / lamé /
leather / mesh / mohair / net / suede

  • To the right of the top search box, select Material -- ML from the drop-down menu. Then click the “Look up Materials” link to populate the search box.

A specific print: Elsa Schiaparelli lobster dress / Pucci / Hermes / Diane
von Furstenberg

  • To the right of the top search box, select Designer name – DEN from the drop-down menu. Click the Look up Designers link to populate the search box.
  • In the second search box, enter your second search term.

Other ways to limit searches:

  • Date
  • Person pictured
  • Company/brand

Or try browsing! 

Contact us!

Please feel free to get in touch with a librarian at any stage of your research process. Stop by the library (located on the third floor of the B side of the Fenway building), or get in touch directly with:

Ashley Peterson

  • apeterson@smfa.edu
  • 617-369-3653

Darin Murphy

  • dmurphy@smfa.edu
  • 617-369-3651

Circulation Desk (evening and weekend contact)

  • library@smfa.edu
  • 617-369-3650
smfa