The CHS Costume and Textile Collection is among the largest in New England, and documents the variety of clothing styles made and/or worn in Connecticut from the mid-1700s to the mid-1900s. Costume holdings number approximately 5500 items, including men's, women's and children's clothing, as well as accessories such as headgear, footwear, parasols, etc. In addition to examples of special occasion clothing and everyday wear, the collection contains military uniforms, sports team uniforms, occupational dress, undergarments, and nightwear.

Four gallery themes have been chosen to highlight several of the earliest pieces in the collection, dating from about 1730 to the mid-1830s.