As I walked through the doors of the Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT) museum, my eyes immediately fall on Catherine Malandrino’s creation: a red, white and blue dress, sprinkled with red and white stripes. It is called simply, Flag Dress, and has been inspired by our very own history.

Flag Dress‘s fabric, designed with the patterns of an American flag, is only the start of this short and very sweet exhibition. Open since July 7 and going on until November 7, 2009, the exhibition’s theme is “Fashion & Politics (Fashion and Textile History Gallery),” and brings visitors through all of American history, from the colonial to modern periods. The featured clothing is not only present for aesthetic reasons, but for an even more profound one. Each era’s trends are connected to the political atmosphere at the time, blending two very significant components of any culture. To encompass the 21st century, for instance, a glittered, yellow dress with President Obama’s face plastered on the front, stands tall at the last section of the exhibition, representing the currency of this new political age. Likewise, placed in a glass box next to this piece stands a mahogany pair of “Naughty Monkeys,” or pumps worn by Sarah Palin during the campaign.

The exhibition features pieces reflective of worldwide politics, as well. One piece in particular pops out: a figure-fitting dress designed with a pattern of varying faces of Mao Zedong, Communist leader in China. These varying images are meant to signify political and cultural change.

Normally, we don’t connect fashion with politics. This absolutely free exhibit, open from noon to 8 PM on Tuesdays through Fridays, and 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays, however, clears up any and all doubts. After experiencing American culture through this museum, we can better understand how politics change dress, and how dress affects politics. Just as political buttons, for instance, make a statement, so does clothing, on an equal or maybe even on a greater scale. This gallery ultimately conveys so impeccably this message that fashion is not trivial, but is so significant, that it is infused in what makes up an entire people, culture, nation, and even, world.