Margaret’s restores Joan Crawford and Liza Minnelli costumes for Denver Art Museum exhibition

Margaret’s the Couture Cleaner restored two historic Hollywood costumes now on view in DIVA at the Denver Art Museum, the exhibition’s only U.S. venue through Jan. 31, 2027. The work highlights how specialized textile conservation can keep film history exhibition-ready.

Why it matters: - The restored garments connect Hollywood costume history to a major museum exhibition and make fragile screen-worn textiles available for public viewing. - The project shows how private collectors, conservation specialists and museums work together to preserve historically significant fashion. - The exhibition run gives Denver a rare U.S. opportunity to see costumes tied to Joan Crawford and Liza Minnelli.

What happened: - Margaret’s the Couture Cleaner restored two costumes from collector Norman Tipton’s private collection for DIVA at the Denver Art Museum. - The exhibition, developed by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, is on view in Denver through January 31, 2027. - The featured pieces were worn by Joan Crawford and Liza Minnelli.

The details: - Joan Crawford’s costume is a black ensemble from the 1945 film Mildred Pierce. - The garment arrived with snags, tears and damaged fabric after decades of deterioration. - The ensemble’s white scarf was missing. - Margaret’s repaired the textile damage and recreated the scarf to restore the costume’s full visual presentation. - Liza Minnelli’s restored piece is an emerald-green evening gown from Martin Scorsese’s 1977 film New York, New York. - Theodora Van Runkle designed the gown. - The gown has dramatic draping, a plunging neckline and decorative beadwork. - The garment showed staining, color loss and damage to its embroidery. - Margaret’s completed localized cleaning, specialized color treatment and beadwork repairs. - Chuck Horst, president of Margaret’s the Couture Cleaner, said: “Historic costumes are irreplaceable records of artistry and craftsmanship. Our responsibility is to preserve their character while addressing the damage that time has caused, so future generations can continue to appreciate their cultural significance.”

Between the lines: - The restoration work was not just cosmetic. The costumes had to keep their original construction, silhouette and historic character while becoming stable enough for exhibition. - The project underscores the value of specialized conservation for fragile textiles that standard cleaning cannot handle. - DIVA’s focus on fashion, identity and performance gives the restored costumes a broader cultural frame beyond film memorabilia.

What’s next: - DIVA remains at the Denver Art Museum, the exhibition’s exclusive U.S. venue, through January 31, 2027. - Margaret’s says the project reflects nearly five decades of work in couture restoration, historic costume preservation and museum textile conservation support. - The company offers services including historic garment cleaning, exhibition preparation and preservation support for private collectors, museums and cultural institutions. - More information is available in Margaret’s announcement and the Denver Art Museum exhibition page.

The bottom line: - The restoration of these two costumes turns damaged film history into museum-ready cultural artifacts, and it shows how expert textile conservation can extend the life of iconic screen fashion.