Margaret’s costumes land in Denver Art Museum’s DIVA show

Two Hollywood costumes preserved by Margaret’s the Couture Cleaner are now on view at the Denver Art Museum in DIVA, the exhibition’s only U.S. stop. The display puts private textile conservation work in public view while highlighting the care needed to keep decades-old screen costumes exhibition-ready.

Why it matters: - The Denver Art Museum is showing two Hollywood costumes preserved by Margaret’s the Couture Cleaner, turning private conservation work into a public exhibition story. - The costumes connect major screen legacies tied to Liza Minnelli and Joan Crawford with the specialized care needed to keep fragile garments stable for museum display. - Historic costumes carry design, fabric and construction details that document film history as much as performance history.

What happened: - Two costumes from the Norman Tipton Collection, treated by Margaret’s the Couture Cleaner, are now on view in DIVA at the Denver Art Museum. - The exhibition opened Oct. 4, 2026, and runs through Jan. 31, 2027, in the museum’s Hamilton Building. - The Denver Art Museum is the exhibition’s exclusive U.S. venue. - Margaret’s is based in San Diego.

The details: - Margaret’s provided cleaning, repair and/or restoration services for the three costumes through its work with collector Norman Tipton. - The company has handled multiple historic costumes for Tipton over the years. - One featured piece is a Liza Minnelli costume from New York, New York (1977), designed by Theadora Van Runkle and identified in the museum guide as sequins and polyester. - Another is a Joan Crawford costume from Mildred Pierce (1945), designed by Milo Anderson and identified as a synthetic textile. - DIVA was created by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. - The exhibition explores the influence of performers across opera, dance, theatre, film and popular music. - DIVA debuted at the V&A in 2023 and later traveled to Kunsthal Rotterdam, Auckland Museum and Arts Centre Melbourne. - Exhibition information and tickets are available here. - Information about Margaret’s textile conservation and restoration services is available here.

Between the lines: - The museum display shows how conservation work can extend the life of private collections until those objects are ready for public interpretation. - The inclusion of these costumes also spotlights the crossover between celebrity memorabilia and material culture preservation. - Chuck Horst, Margaret’s president, said treatment decisions for screen-worn garments are a balance between stability and preservation.

What’s next: - Margaret’s says it is available to discuss textile-care considerations for historic costumes, private-collection stewardship and the move from private care into public exhibition. - The company is also available for interviews and additional images through its media contact. - Visitors can see DIVA at the Denver Art Museum through Jan. 31, 2027.

The bottom line: - The Denver show gives museumgoers a rare look at both the costumes and the conservation work that keeps them display-ready.