Designed by

Arthur McGee, American, 1933 - 2019

Subject of

Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

Medium

synthetic fiber with metal buttons

Dimensions

H x W (flat): 46 × 84 in. (116.8 × 213.4 cm)

Type

capes (outerwear)

Place made

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

mid 20th-late 20th century

Description

Red cape designed by Arthur McGee. The cape is open down the center front with slits for the arms at each side and a mid-calf hemline. It has a short standing collar with the proper right side of the collar extending over to fasten at the proper left side with two (2) buttons. One button is missing and the other is a round metal button with a raised design of an eagle beneath a crown surrounded by a leafy wreath. Two (2) rectangular patch pockets are sewn one at each front side hip below the arm slits. The cape is not lined. A cream fabric label with black embroidered text reading "ARTHUR McGEE / N.Y.C." is sewn at the interior center back neck.

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Fashion

Fashion design

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane

Object number

2007.3.57.1

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Black Fashion Museum Collection

Classification

Clothing-Fashion

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

Lowe, Ann, American, 1898 - 1981

Subject of

Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

Medium

.1: synthetic taffeta, chiffon, beads, and metal fasteners;

.2: synthetic taffeta, chiffon, and metal hook-and-eye

Dimensions

H x W (.1 flat): 39 × 19 1/2 in. (99.1 × 49.5 cm)

H x W (.2 flat): 39 × 44 in. (99.1 × 111.8 cm)

Type

dresses

capes (outerwear)

Date

late 1960s - early 1970s

Description

Miniature yellow dress (.1) and cape (.2) inspired by First Lady Kennedy made by Ann Lowe. The dress (.1) is made from pale yellow synthetic taffeta. It has a strapless bodice with a round neckline, a floor-length column skirt, and a sleeveless chiffon over blouse. The strapless taffeta bodice is embellished with silver bugle beads hand sewn in an all over vermicelli pattern. The over blouse made from pale yellow chiffon is attached at the taffeta waistband and is open at the center back, fastening only at the top neck and waist with metal hook-and-eyes. The dress closes at the center back with zipper and one (1) hook-and-eye. The top edge of the bodice and the skirt are lined in metallic yellow synthetic fabric. There are no labels.

The cape (.2) is floor-length with box pleats at the center back neck and a short standing collar. There are slits at each side for the arms. It is made from the pale yellow taffeta used on the dress with a top layer of the pale yellow chiffon used for the over blouse on the dress. A self-fabric pre-tied bow is sewn at the center front neck. The cape is lined with the taffeta. There are no labels.

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Fashion

Fashion design

United States--Social life and customs

Women

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane

Object number

2007.3.77.1-.2

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Black Fashion Museum Collection

Classification

Clothing-Historical

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Unidentified

Subject of

Ku Klux Klan, 2nd, American, 1915 - 1944

Medium

cotton (textile), metal, tassel

Dimensions

H x W (flat): 30 5/16 × 46 7/8 in. (77 × 119 cm)

Type

capes (outerwear)

Place used

United States, North and Central America

Date

1920s

Description

A cotton, rose colored hip-length cape used by a Ku Klux Klan member. The robe is completely lined with white cotton fabric. The lining is attached to the outer cape by snap fasteners all along the front edges and around the bottom edge. Two snaps sewn on the outer left back permits the left front of the cape to be pulled back and fastened, allowing the lining to show. The cape has a large flat collar. Underneath the collar are metal cape fasteners around the neck of the cape. A rose colored cord is attached to the neckline of the cape at both lapels. The cord has fringed ends.

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Fraternal organizations

United States--History--1919-1933

White supremacy movements

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Anonymous Gift

Object number

2013.231.6

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Historical

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Blakely, Dorian

Worn by

Hendryx, Nona, American, born 1944

Subject of

Labelle, American, founded 1962

Medium

synthetic fiber, metal, batting, and wire

Dimensions

H x W x D (On form): 68 × 26 × 25 in. (172.7 × 66 × 63.5 cm)

Type

capes (outerwear)

Place used

Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, Manhattan County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1974

Description

This cape is part of a costume worn by Nona Hendryx of Labelle. The costume consists of a headdress (.1), a cape (.2), silver studded black leather collar, breast covers, and codpiece (.3a-d), wrist cuffs (.4ab), platform boots (.5ab), prop handcuffs (.6), and a prop riding crop (.7).

The floor-length cape (.2) is made of a black synthetic fabric with a shiny finish. The cape is open in the front, with no armholes, and closes with a silver metal zipper that runs from the upper edge of the bustline to the upper neck just below the chin. A tight-fitting hood, made from the same black material, is attached at the back neck. The collar and shoulders of the cape have attached padded decorations consisting of a wide collar made of two layers of the black material with batting between them that are quilted in undulating concentric lines. The sides of the bib are folded in an accordion fashion to create a wing-like structure on each shoulder. The edges of these wings contain stiff wire that is molded to the shape and sewn inside the outermost edge of the layers of black material. The seams of the quilted lines are obscured by lengths of small silver ball chain. Long lengths of the ball chain extend from the end of the shoulders with both ends attached, creating long loops in a concentric half-oval down the sides of the cape. The hem of the cape is padded and quilted with three (3) parallel lines, with the seams also covered in the silver ball chain.

The interior of the cape is not lined. There are custom-made oversized shoulder pads to support the quilted collar and wings.

This costume is very similar to a costume worn by Hendryx during a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House on October 6, 1974.

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Costume

Disco (Music)

Funk (Music)

Rhythm and blues (Music)

Rock and roll (Music)

Singers (Musicians)

Soul (Music)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Nona Hendryx of Labelle

Object number

2014.246.2.2

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Unidentified

Subject of

Ku Klux Klan, 2nd, American, 1915 - 1944

Medium

cotton (textile), metal

Dimensions

H x W (flat): 29 3/4 × 43 11/16 in. (75.5 × 111 cm)

Type

capes (outerwear)

Place used

United States, North and Central America

Date

1920s

Description

A cotton, light brown, hip-length cape used by a Ku Klux Klan member. The robe is completely lined with white cotton fabric. The lining is attached to the outer cape by snap fasteners all along the front edges and around the bottom edge. The cape has no collar and a small, metal safety pin is attached to the neckline at the front of the cape.

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Fraternal organizations

United States--History--1919-1933

White supremacy movements

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Anonymous Gift

Object number

2013.231.7

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Historical

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

De Mora, Robert

Worn by

Carry, Julius J. III, American, 1952 - 2008

Created by

de Passe Entertainment, founded 1968

Medium

canvas with paint and cloth

Dimensions

L x W: 66 1/2 x 27 1/2 in. (168.9 x 69.9 cm)

Type

capes (outerwear)

Date

1985

Description

A painted canvas cape with synthetic tiger fur around the shoulders. The canvas is painted in tiger print and is fraying along the bottom. The fur has been treated with chlorine.

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Costume

Film

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, "I am the Master, Sho'Nuff!" Gift of Naomi Carry in loving memory of Julius J. Carry, III

Object number

2013.49.2

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture