Medium: Polyester tricot

Date: 1966

Country: USA

Credit: Gift of Mitch Rein

These animal-pattern outfits by Rudi Gernreich explore the notion of clothes as a second skin. As part of the designer’s “total look” concept, customers could also purchase matching underwear, hoods, shoes, and gloves, thus affecting a complete transformation. These ensembles blurred the lines between human and animal.

Object Number: 82.153.72