Skip to main content
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Smithsonian
  • Visit

    Visit

    Get the latest information about timed passes and tips for planning your visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Accessibility Options
    • Sweet Home Café
    • Museum Store
    • Museum Maps
    • Download Our Mobile App
  • Explore

    Explore

    Search the collection and explore our exhibitions, centers, and digital initiatives
    • Search the Collection
    • Exhibitions
    • The Curator Chats Series
    • Collection Stories
    • NMAAHC Digital Resources Guide
    • Blog
    • Many Lenses
    • Building
    • Museum Centers
    • Initiatives
    • Open Access
    • Publications
  • Learn

    Learn

    Online resources for educators, students, and families
    • Educators
    • Students
    • Adults
    • Early Childhood
    • Library
    • Talking About Race
  • Connect

    Connect

    Engage with us and support the Museum from wherever you are
    • Strategic Partnerships
    • Ways to Give
    • Volunteer
    • Internships & Fellowships
    • Contact
  • Events

    Events

    View a calendar of our public programs
    • Today at the Museum
    • Host an Event at NMAAHC
    • Upcoming Events
    • Ongoing Tours and Activities
    • Recent Events
  • About

    About

    Learn more about the Museum and view recent news
    • About the Museum
    • Leadership
    • Meet Our Curators
    • Founding Donors
    • Corporate Leadership Council
    • News
    • Image Files for Media Use
    • NMAAHC Annual Reports
  • Donate
  • Search

Search form

Collection Home

Collection Search Results

Search:
Filter:
Close Facet Modal
Basic Advanced
  • Topic
    • Costume 1 [-]
    • Disco (Music) 1 [-]
    • Rhythm and blues (Music) 1 [-]
    • Rock and roll (Music) 1 [-]
    Search More Topics
    Show More Topics Show Fewer Topics
  • Name
    • Blakely, Dorian 1 [-]
    • Hendryx, Nona 1 [-]
    • Labelle 1 [-]
    Search More Names
    Show More Names Show Fewer Names
  • Date
    • 1970s 1 [-]
    Search More Dates
    Show More Dates Show Fewer Dates
  • Place
    • Manhattan County 1 [-]
    • New York City 1 [-]
    • North and Central America 1 [-]
    Search More Places
    Show More Places Show Fewer Places
Filter Results
Applied Filters: clear all filters
    Included:
  • topic: "Funk (Music)"
  • place: "Metropolitan Opera House"
  • place: "United States"
  • topic: "Singers (Musicians)"
  • topic: "Soul (Music)"
  • object-type: "Capes (outerwear)"
  • topic: "Clothing and dress"
  • data-source: "National Museum of African American History and Culture"
Your search found 1 result(s).
Print
  • Black cape from a costume worn by Nona Hendryx of Labelle

    Designed by
    Blakely, Dorian
    Worn by
    Hendryx, Nona, American, born 1944
    Subject of
    Labelle, American, founded 1962
    Date
    1974
    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)
    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.
    Place used
    Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, Manhattan County, New York, United States, North and Central America
    Classification
    Clothing-Costume
    Type
    capes (outerwear)
    Topic
    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
    Usage
    CC0
    GUID
    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd52615d0a2-15c1-47f5-b05a-cf51cb8afc37
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Museum Address

1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560

  • Become a Member
  • Make a Donation

Get Updates

 
    Please leave this field empty
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Snapchat
  • YouTube

Privacy | Terms of Use

Back to Top