A Taste Of Old Hollywood Comes To Tanger Outlets in Riverehead - 27 East

Arts & Living

Arts & Living / 1328889

A Taste Of Old Hollywood Comes To Tanger Outlets in Riverehead

icon 25 Photos
Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady,” 1964. Designer: Cecil Beaton (dress is a reproduction). LESLEY ANTHONY

Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady,” 1964. Designer: Cecil Beaton (dress is a reproduction). LESLEY ANTHONY

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. LESLEY ANTHONY

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. LESLEY ANTHONY

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

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

Fred Astaire as Don Hewes in “Easter Parade,” 1948 Designer: Valles

Fred Astaire as Don Hewes in “Easter Parade,” 1948 Designer: Valles

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). LESLEY ANTHONY

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). LESLEY ANTHONY

Jeanette MacDonald as Mary Blake in “San Francisco,” 1936. Designer: Adrian LESLEY ANTHONY

Jeanette MacDonald as Mary Blake in “San Francisco,” 1936. Designer: Adrian LESLEY ANTHONY

John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn in “True Grit,” 1969. Designer: Dorothy Jeakins LESLEY ANTHONY

John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn in “True Grit,” 1969. Designer: Dorothy Jeakins LESLEY ANTHONY

Mae West as Peaches O’Day in “Every Day’s A Holiday,” 1937. Designer: Schiaperelli. LESLEY ANTHONY

Mae West as Peaches O’Day in “Every Day’s A Holiday,” 1937. Designer: Schiaperelli. LESLEY ANTHONY

Mira Sorvino as Marilyn Monroe in “Norma Jean and Marilyn,” 1996. Designer: Gene London LESELY ANTHONY

Mira Sorvino as Marilyn Monroe in “Norma Jean and Marilyn,” 1996. Designer: Gene London LESELY ANTHONY

Marilyn Monroe as the Girl in "The Seven Year Itch," 1954. ANNETTE HINKLE

Marilyn Monroe as the Girl in "The Seven Year Itch," 1954. ANNETTE HINKLE

A silver wake-up. MARSHALL WATSON

A silver wake-up. MARSHALL WATSON

Doris Day as Jennifer Nelson in "The Glass Bottom Boat," 1966. Designer: Ray Aghayan and Bob Mackie. ANNETTE HINKLE

Doris Day as Jennifer Nelson in "The Glass Bottom Boat," 1966. Designer: Ray Aghayan and Bob Mackie. ANNETTE HINKLE

Ginger Rodgers as Dinah Barkley in "The Barkleys of Broadway," 1949. Designer: Irene ANNETTE HINKLE

Ginger Rodgers as Dinah Barkley in "The Barkleys of Broadway," 1949. Designer: Irene ANNETTE HINKLE

Fred Astaire as Don Hewes in "Easter Parade," 1948. Desinger: Valles ANNETTE HINKLE

Fred Astaire as Don Hewes in "Easter Parade," 1948. Desinger: Valles ANNETTE HINKLE

Leslie Caron as Gigi in "Gigi," 1958. Designer: Cecil Beaton ANNETTE HINKLE

Leslie Caron as Gigi in "Gigi," 1958. Designer: Cecil Beaton ANNETTE HINKLE

Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in "Gone With The Wind," 1939. Designer: Walter Plunkett ANNETTE HINKLE

Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in "Gone With The Wind," 1939. Designer: Walter Plunkett ANNETTE HINKLE

Ava Gardner as Pauline Ostrovsky in "The Great Sinner," 1949. Designer: Irene ANNETTE HINKLE

Ava Gardner as Pauline Ostrovsky in "The Great Sinner," 1949. Designer: Irene ANNETTE HINKLE

Bette Davis as Queen Elizabeth I in "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex," 1939. Designer: Orry-Kelly ANNETTE HINKLE

Bette Davis as Queen Elizabeth I in "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex," 1939. Designer: Orry-Kelly ANNETTE HINKLE

Bette Davis as Queen Elizabeth I in "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex," 1939. Designer: Orry-Kelly ANNETTE HINKLE

Bette Davis as Queen Elizabeth I in "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex," 1939. Designer: Orry-Kelly ANNETTE HINKLE

John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit," 1969. Designer: Dorothy Jeakins ANNETTE HINKLE

John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit," 1969. Designer: Dorothy Jeakins ANNETTE HINKLE

Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady," 1964. Designer: Cecil Beaton (reproduction) ANNETTE HINKLE

Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady," 1964. Designer: Cecil Beaton (reproduction) ANNETTE HINKLE

Breakfast beauty. MARSHALL WATSON

Breakfast beauty. MARSHALL WATSON

Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan in "The Great Gatsby," 1974. Designer: Theoni V. Aldredge ANNETTE HINKLE

Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan in "The Great Gatsby," 1974. Designer: Theoni V. Aldredge ANNETTE HINKLE

Jean Harlow, personal gown, 1932. Designer: Adrian ANNETTE HINKLE

Jean Harlow, personal gown, 1932. Designer: Adrian ANNETTE HINKLE

A silver wake-up. MARSHALL WATSON

A silver wake-up. MARSHALL WATSON

authorAnnette Hinkle on Apr 11, 2019

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

You May Also Like:

Springs Artist Fitzhugh Karol Debuts Outdoor Sculpture Show at Duck Creek

The Arts Center at Duck Creek will present “Fitzhugh Karol: On the Grounds,” a site-specific ... 8 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

La Goulue Sur Mer Arrives in Southampton, With a Dash of Chaos and a Side of Style

“Is it true?” said the anxious DM on my Instagram account. “Is La Goulue really ... by Steven Stolman

Art on a Line: Guild Hall’s Clothesline Sale Hangs Tough for 2025

Guild Hall’s beloved Clothesline Art Sale returns on Saturday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The annual event, a Hamptons tradition since 1946, transforms the museum’s lawn into a sea of original artwork — hung on clotheslines — and offers visitors the chance to purchase local art at accessible prices. Jackson Pollock once sold a painting at the sale for $250, and past participants have included Lee Krasner, Alfonso Ossorio, Elaine and Willem de Kooning and other art-world icons. The event continues to offer a rare opportunity for the public to view and purchase work by East End ... by Staff Writer

The Climate-Friendly Fitness Routine

“Live simply so that others might simply live” — Mahatma Gandhi The first time I ... by Jenny Noble

Joy Behar Gets the Last Laugh in ‘My First Ex-Husband' at Bay Street Theater, July 14-19

Emmy Award-winning comedian and co-host of “The View,” Joy Behar stars in “My First Ex-Husband,” a bold, funny and heartfelt new play based on true stories from her life. The limited engagement runs July 14 through 19, at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. With razor-sharp wit and no filters, “My First Ex-Husband” explores the messy, hilarious truths of love, sex and relationships. Adapted from Behar’s personal experiences, the show is both deeply personal and widely relatable. Behar will appear on stage on July 14, 18 and 19. Also appearing nightly, July 14 through 19, are Veanne Cox, a Tony-nominated ... by Staff Writer

Experience the Rhythms of Brazil With Nilson Matta’s Voyage Quartet

Grammy-nominated bassist Nilson Matta will lead his Brazilian Voyage Quartet at The Church on Friday, July 25, at 6 p.m. The concert is part of Hamptons JazzFest. The group features acclaimed guitarist Chico Pinheiro and offers a rich exploration of samba, bossa nova and modern Brazilian jazz. Matta, a founding member of the renowned Trio da Paz and longtime collaborator with Yo-Yo Ma on the Grammy-winning “Obrigado Brazil” project, is known for blending traditional Brazilian rhythms with contemporary jazz. His lyrical bass playing and deep rhythmic connection have earned him international acclaim. Guitarist Chico Pinheiro, recognized as a leading voice ... by Staff Writer

At the Galleries for July 10, 2025

Montauk The Depot Art Gallery, at the Montauk railroad station at the corner of Flamingo ... by Staff Writer

Round and About for July 10, 2025

Fireworks Shelter Island Fireworks The Shelter Island fireworks will be held on Saturday, July 12, ... by Staff Writer

Curtis Institute of Music Alumni and Faculty To Perform in East Hampton on July 22

Talented alumni and faculty from the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music will tour the East Coast this summer, with a concert scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton. The event is presented by Music for Montauk. The program features beloved melodies ranging from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” to works by Brahms and de Falla. Performers include mezzo-soprano Katie Trigg, violinist Elissa Lee Koljonen, pianist Hanchien Lee, and Curtis Institute President and violist Roberto Díaz. The concert program includes: Manuel de Falla’s “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” performed by Díaz (viola) and Lee (piano); ... by Staff Writer

'Bonnie & Clyde' Cast and Crew Announced for Bay Street Musical

Bay Street Theater has unveiled the complete cast and creative teams for its pulse-pounding musical ... 7 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer