Exhibition Opening: Dolores Gonzales Resort Wear

Join Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson, Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation and Tucson Moderism Week for an exhibition of the Dresses of Dolores Gonzales at the Mexican-American Heritage and History Museum at the Historic Sosa-Carrillo House.

Typifying the entrepreneurial spirit post WWII Tucson, dress designer is Dolores Barcelo Gonzales was true product of the southwest. In the 1950s and 60s Dolores was a name known throughout the U. S. dress manufacturing market. Her dresses, square dance gowns and denim items were sold everywhere from New York City to Los Angeles. Born in Sonora, Mexico, Dolores lived in Douglas for many, years and then moved to Los Angeles working for a dress manufacturing company. Moving to Tucson she and her brother Richard Barcelo brought the dress shop Irene Page on Stone Avenue. In 1941, the store began to make their own dresses and it was renamed the Dolores Shop. Dolores maintained a factory and help lead the creation of a district regional fashion that took the country by storm. Mamie Eisenhower, Pat Nixon and Cyd Charisse were known to have bought and worn Gonzales' dresses.

The exhibition is a rare opportunity to see original dresses designed by Dolores Gonzales from the 1950 and 1960s.

Opening: Saturday, October 5, 2019: 6:00PM - 8:00PM 

Exhibition Oct. 6 - Nov. 30: Thur - Sat 10:00AM  - 4:00PM