The ϳԹ Museum is pleased to announce a collaborative program at the in Old Saybrook, Connecticut on Dec. 4. The program will highlight ϳԹ Museum’s current exhibition, “The Hepburn Style: Katharine and Her Designers,” which draws from the museum’s rich collection of clothing and costumes from the Hepburn estate.
“The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center is beyond thrilled to partner with the ϳԹ Museum for this very special event,” said Brett Elliott, executive director of the Kate. “Bringing together the only museum of its kind dedicated to the great Katharine Hepburn and the museum with the largest Hepburn clothing and costume collection is a match made in heaven. We look forward to this collaboration and many more as we both continue to share the legacy of a true Hollywood icon.”
The program will focus on Hepburn’s style through an exploration of both her personal wardrobe and her costumes, emphasizing her focus on comfort, line and proportion. The program pulls together – for the first time – three iconic costume designers who worked with Hepburn on stage and screen productions.
“The exciting aspect of Katharine Hepburn’s style is that it is enduring,” said Joanne Fenn, ϳԹ Museum collections manager and registrar, who curated the exhibition and will be headlining the program. “Her choices went beyond fashion trends, incorporating her individuality and pushing gender norms.”
The presentation also will highlight archival items from the Katharine Hepburn Museum and conclude with a moderated discussion with the audience.
The new director of the ϳԹ Museum, Sarah Spinner Liska, Ph.D., J.D., is committed to building partnerships across the region and country to showcase the museum’s extraordinary collection and open opportunities for exploration, research and collaboration.
“We are delighted to celebrate our current exhibition – and Hepburn’s enduring style legacy – with the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, and we are so grateful for the warm welcome in Hepburn’s hometown of Old Saybrook,” Spinner Liska said.
“The Hepburn Style” program will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the Kate in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Tickets are available through the Kate’s website. The ϳԹ Museum exhibition “The Hepburn Style: Katharine and Her Designers” runs through Sept. 28, 2025 at the museum in Kent, Ohio.
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ABOUT THE KENT STATE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM
The ϳԹ Museum in Kent, Ohio, holds one of the world’s most important collections of fashion, textile and decorative arts, spanning the mid-1700s through the present day. With a historic collection of over 30,000 objects, the museum offers invaluable first-hand experiences for both the university community and the broader public. The museum is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from noon-4 p.m. The museum is free for children under 5 and for those with a ϳԹ ID. Sunday admission is free for all ages. Parking is free for all museum attendees. For more information, please call 330-672-3450 or visit www.kent.edu/museum.
ABOUT THE KATHARINE HEPBURN CULTURAL ARTS CENTER AND MUSEUM
The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (the Kate) is a not-for-profit performing arts organization located in the historic theatre/town hall on Main Street in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Originally opened in 1911, and reopened as the Kate in 2009, the building is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Kate includes a state-of-the-art 285-seat theatre and presents work in several genres, including music, theater, opera, dance, comedy, film and a variety of children’s programming. The theatre lobby boasts the Katharine Hepburn Museum honoring Old Saybrook’s most celebrated resident. Exhibits feature personal letters, movie memorabilia, costumes and more. Visit for more information.
Photo Caption: Ensemble worn by Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in "The Philadelphia Story" (stage production 1939). Costume designer, Valentina Sanina Schlee (1899-1989). ϳԹ Museum, gift of the estate of Katharine Hepburn.