FIDM celebrates TV costumes, from ‘Breaking Bad’ to ‘Downton Abbey’

Can you imagine two television shows as stylistically different as “Breaking Bad” and “Downtown Abbey?” Or “True Detective” and “Sound of Music Live?”

But they all come together in “The Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design,” the eighth annual exhibit of costumes from Emmy- nominated shows at the FIDM Museum in Los Angeles.

This year’s edition, curated by former Costume Designers Guild president Mary Rose, opened in July and features 100 costumes from more than 20 shows.

Two of this year’s nominees for costume design are included: “American Horror Story: Coven,” designed by Lou Eyrich, in the miniseries, movie or special category; and “Downton Abbey,” designed by Caroline McCall, in the series category.

Other shows represented are “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “The Blacklist,” “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Breaking Bad,” “Castle,” “Dallas,” “The Good Wife,” “Lizzie Borden Took an Axe,” “Masters of Sex,” “Orange Is the New Black,” “Parenthood,” “Portlandia,” “Pretty Little Liars,” “The Red Road,” “Salem,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “The Sound of Music Live!,” “The Trip to Bountiful” and “True Detective.”

The exhibit is scheduled to run through Sept. 22, meaning a true aficianado could visit both before and after the Emmy Awards (prime-time Emmys are Aug. 25; the Costume Design Awards are part of the creative arts Emmys on Aug. 16).

And why not go more than once, to take in all the details? The exhibit is open free to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at the Museum & Galleries at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, 919 S. Grand Ave., in downtown L.A.

There are also docent-led tours on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for $20 per person for groups of 10 to 25 people (a minimum of $200 for groups smaller than 10). These must be booked by appointment by calling Kevin Jones at (213) 623-5821, Ext. 3367 or by emailing kjones@fidmmuseum.org. Special arrangements may also be made for larger groups.

Another option is a “quick tour,” offered for $5 per person at 11 a.m. Wednesday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday. To schedule, email info@fidmmuseumshop.com.