A Taste Of Old Hollywood Comes To Tanger Outlets in Riverehead

Let’s be honest. Tanger Outlets in Riverhead is probably the last place you’d expect to find a taste of old Hollywood. But there it is … in Suite 1003 at Tanger 2.

This is where you’ll find “The Golden Age of Hollywood Costume Exhibit” nestled between Vera Bradley and Famous Footwear Outlet in a storefront that, until recently, was home to Design Furniture Outlet.

On view in the space are 52 outfits worn by famous actors and actresses in famous films of yesteryear, and unlike the stores nearby, none of them are for sale. That’s because these costumes are on loan from the massive Gene London Cinema Collection.

The clothing on display at Tanger was worn by everyone from Mae West and Joan Crawford, to John Wayne and Fred Astaire and it represents just a fraction of the thousands of items in Gene London’s collection. The 87-year-old Mr. London began his career as a TV host for a local kids cartoon show in Philadelphia in the 1960s and ’70s before moving to New York to become a fashion designer. Over the years, he made a hobby of collecting outfits worn by celebrities and at this point has amassed more than 60,000 gowns, dresses and fashion accessories worn by the biggest stars of film’s golden age.

The Tanger exhibit was the idea of Lesley Anthony who was named general manager of the outlets last May. This is the first exhibition of its kind at the Riverhead outlets and in a phone interview, Ms. Anthony explained that her goal was to bring a unique art show to the space as a way to entertain current customers and attract new ones. Her online research of possible themes led Ms. Anthony to Mr. London’s costume exhibition, which was recently on display at an art museum in Odessa, Texas.

“It was such a perfect fit for us because it’s about art and fashion,” said Ms. Anthony, adding that the timing was perfect as well. “Usually this takes about a year to organize, but we put it together in four months. Gene London was just ending the Texas exhibit and he shipped it from there.”

The stars who wore these clothes may have been larger than life, but Ms. Anthony notes that when you see the costumes in person, you quickly realize that their waistlines were tiny. What’s not been small is the crowd size. She estimates that over 5,000 people recently came to see the exhibition over the course of just a week and a half.

“Customer reaction has been amazing,” said Ms. Anthony. “When people see it, their reaction just totally changes and some people leave teary eyed. It’s been great for kids, too, who know the names but have never seen the movies.”

When asked if there’s been a fan favorite among the costumes, she points to the stunning black and white number which Cecil Beaton designed for Audrey Hepburn in the 1964 musical “My Fair Lady,” (though in interest of full disclosure, the dress on display is one of the few reproductions in the show).

For those who haven’t seen the old films, a text panel alongside each costume offers information describing the character and the scene in which the outfit was worn, as well as the designer’s name, a fact which Ms. Anthony said delighted one Fashion Institute of Technology student who came to the opening reception.

For those with a keen interest in the costumes or who perhaps even have their own historic clothing items, Gene London, himself, will be at Tanger Outlets in Riverhead on April 27 and 28 to talk about the collection and offer appraisals.

Of course, Tanger is ultimately all about shopping and Ms. Anthony notes that the costume exhibit was timed to coincide with the mall’s big spring advertising campaign. Visitors to the exhibit are not leaving empty-handed.

“We’re arming them with coupons,” she said.

Gene London’s Golden Age of Hollywood Costume Exhibit will be on view through April 29 at Tanger Outlets Riverhead. Admission is free and open daily from noon to 7 p.m. With the success of this show, expect Tanger to offer similar events going forward. In July the Riverhead outlet will host a visit from Hilary Farr of the HGTV show “Love It or List It.”

Mira Sorvino as Marilyn Monroe in “Norma Jean and Marilyn,” 1996.

Designer: Gene London

Leslie Caron as Gigi in “Gigi,” 1958.

Designer: Cecil Beaton

Beaton created the costumes for “Gigi” and then did the same for “My Fair Lady.” He won the Best Costume Oscar for both films.

Mae West as Peaches O’Day in “Every Day’s A Holiday,” 1937.

Designer: Schiaparelli

Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in “Gone With The Wind,” 1939.

Designer: Walter Plunkett (green and red dress are reproductions)

Jeanette MacDonald as Mary Blake in “San Francisco,” 1936.

Designer: Adrian

Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady,” 1964.

Designer: Cecil Beaton (dress is a reproduction)

Ginger Rodgers as Dinah Barkley in “The Barkleys of Broadway,” 1949.

Designer: Irene

Fred Astaire as Don Hewes in “Easter Parade,” 1948.

Designer: Valles

John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn in “True Grit,” 1969.

Designer: Dorothy Jeakins