Snoopy in Style NYC Exhibition Highlights Fashion

A new exhibition in Manhattan celebrates Snoopy's journey from comic strip sidekick to fashion icon and cultural phenomenon. 'Snoopy in Style NYC' opened this week and runs with free admission through September 26 in the Meatpacking District, curated by the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center.

The show centers on a collection of Snoopy and Woodstock dolls dressed in custom outfits from major brands like Adidas, Coach, and Levi's. This project reimagines a 1980s initiative by licensing pioneer Connie Boucher, who first collaborated with 'Peanuts' in 1961.

The Licensing Pioneer Behind the Brand

Connie Boucher, who died in 1995, is credited with setting a high standard for cartoon character licensing. Her work began with a 'Peanuts' date book in 1961, an idea that creator Charles Schulz said was followed by sweatshirts, banners, and widespread imitation. "What made her different was the quality and originality of her ideas," Schulz told the New York Times in 1995. Boucher later asked global designers to create outfits for Snoopy, a concept revived for the current exhibition.

Snoopy's Many Hats and Cultural Roles

Snoopy's stardom surged in the late 1960s through his many adopted personas, from World War I flying ace to the suave 'Joe Cool'. In 1968, he became a NASA mascot, and the agency created the 'Silver Snoopy' award for staff achievements in flight safety. That same year, he was a popular write-in candidate during the U.S. Presidential election.

The exhibition also notes the use of 'Peanuts' characters in the 1970s to advocate for Title IX and gender equality in sports. A separate display is devoted to Schulz's close friendship with tennis champion Billie Jean King.

Character Style as Personal Expression

The shows highlights the iconic, simple fashions of the 'Peanuts' gang. Jean Schulz, the cartoonist's widow and museum board president, told amNY that Schulz "understood that characters, like people, had a distinct sense of style." She said seeing Charlie Brown's zig-zag shirt, Linus's security blanket, or Sally's polka-dot dress offered deeper understanding of each character.

An Enduring Pop Culture Presence

Since the 'Peanuts' comic strip ended in 2000 after a nearly 50-year run, Snoopy has remained its most visible character. His likeness appears on clothing and in amusement parks, cafes, and gardens. Author Jonathan Franzen once described Snoopy as a "quick-change artist" who could become a helicopter or hockey player, then revert in a flash to the eager little dog just wanting dinner, a virtuosity that never alienates.