The Museum at FIT, New York

If you didn’t make it to fashion school, pay a visit to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). The Museum at FIT—the only museum in New York dedicated exclusively to fashion—boasts a permanent collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories from the 18th century to the present. There is a particular emphasis on 20th-century designs, and “Fashion, A–Z: Highlights from the Collection of the Museum at FIT, Part Two” (through November 10) honors the likes of Diane von Furstenberg and Ralph Lauren. A second exhibit, “Ivy Style” (through January 5, 2013), showcases how clothing originating on prestigious American college campuses has moved far beyond those walls. Seventh Ave. at 27th St.; 212-217-4558; fitnyc.edu.