Designed by

Blakely, Dorian

Worn by

Hendryx, Nona, American, born 1944

Subject of

Labelle, American, founded 1962

Medium

feather, satin, wood, metal, leather, and Velcro™

Dimensions

H x W x D (On form): 33 × 29 × 31 in. (83.8 × 73.7 × 78.7 cm)

Type

headdresses

Place used

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

Date

1974

Description

This headdress 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 headdress (.1) consists of a fauxhawk with feathers and black leather side straps that fasten under the chin. The fauxhawk section is made of two pieces of hard material, probably wood, that is covered in black satin and decorated with convex silver rounded nail head metal studs on the exterior sides. Short black iridescent feathers, alternating with very long off-white feathers, are glued around the top edges of each hard side. The two sides are connected with a wide strip of black satin that is nailed and stapled along the bottom edge of each side. On the top area, pieces of wire connect to the inner sides of the hard pieces, allowing the sides to hinge outward slightly and to conform to the curve of the wearer's head. The top is filled with short black iridescent feathers. At the bottom outside edge of each hard side of the fauxhawk, two (2) straps of black leather are nailed. Each set of two straps is decorated with convex silver rounded nail head metal studs, and extends down the wearer's head so that one (1) strap goes in front of the ear and one (1) strap goes behind the ear. The two sets of straps fasten under the chin with a large metal snap. There are three (3) small silver grommets on the end of each strap that may have functioned as a lacing system for an additional tie closure.

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

2014.246.2.1

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

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

leather and metal

Dimensions

H x W x D ((a) On form): 7 × 20 1/2 × 8 in. (17.8 × 52.1 × 20.3 cm)

H x W x D ((b) On form): 7 × 1/2 × 3 1/2 in. (17.8 × 1.3 × 8.9 cm)

H x W x D ((c) On form): 7 × 7 × 4 in. (17.8 × 17.8 × 10.2 cm)

H x W x D ((d) On form): 5 3/16 × 3 1/2 × 2 3/8 in. (13.2 × 8.9 × 6 cm)

Type

codpieces

collars (neckwear)

Place used

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

Date

1974

Description

These four (4) black leather covers are 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 four (4) black leather covers (.3a-d) are decorated with convex silver rounded nail head metal studs. They were worn with a white long-sleeved, ankle-length unitard. The unitard is not part of the museum collection, but it is presumed that the snaps on the reverse of the covers attached to snaps that were sewn onto the unitard.

Collar, .a: The shaped collar has a rounded front center dip, and long sides with rounded ends that fully cover both shoulders. The collar is open at the back. It is made from a single layer of four (4) pieces of black leather seamed at the center front and on each shoulder, and left raw on the outside edges except at the front neck area where it is turned to the back and hemmed. The collar is decorated all over with convex silver rounded nail head metal studs. There are three (3) large metal snaps on the back of the collar, one male snap at the center front and one female snap at each back side. A silver safety pin is stuck through the fabric at the tip of the proper right back side of the collar.

Breast covers, b, c: Both the breast covers are alike, roughly circular in shape with a slight roundness to them achieved by a seam near the middle. They are made from a single layer of black leather turned around the edges and hemmed on the reverse. The breast covers are decorated all over with convex silver rounded nail head metal studs. There are four (4) large metal female snaps on the reverse of each cover spaced evenly around the outer edge. A silver safety pin is stuck through near the edge on each of the breast covers.

Codpiece-style cover, d: The codpiece-like cover is shaped like an upside-down teardrop when attached to the unitard. It is made from a single layer of black leather turned around the edges and hemmed on the reverse. The cover is decorated all over with convex silver rounded nail head metal studs. There is one large silver hook sewn on the front of the pointed end. There are two (2) large metal male snaps on the reverse at each corner of the wider rounded end.

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

2014.246.2.3a-d

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

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

plastic, synthetic fiber, leather, metal, batting, and Velcro™

Dimensions

H x W x D (a): 19 × 9 1/4 × 3 3/4 in. (48.3 × 23.5 × 9.5 cm)

H x W x D (b): 18 × 3 3/4 × 9 3/8 in. (45.7 × 9.5 × 23.8 cm)

Type

boots

Place used

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

Date

1974

Description

These boots are 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 two platform boots (.5ab) are both alike, made from modified open-toed ankle-strap platform heel shoes with customized uppers. The leg covers were permanently attached to the platform heel shoes, using small brads and larger flat-headed nails. The shoes have wooden platforms, black satin toe straps, and ankle straps. The ankle straps close at the outer ankle with a silver metal buckle. Black Velcro™ is nailed to each back side of the platform heel, with both sides of the Velcro™ stuck together and having an unclear purpose. Convex silver rounded metal nail head studs are nailed around all sides of the platform. The uppers of the foot and the leg covers are made from a single layer of black leather. An additional piece of black leather is wrapped around padding and sewn along the top edge to form a three-dimensional decorative element. The leather is decorated all over with convex silver rounded metal nail head studs. The covers close up the center back with a silver metal zipper. There are two (2) studs in the bottom of the right shoe (b), one on the back edge of the ball of the foot, the other on the outer edge of the heel. There is a stamp on the insole of the right shoe (b) that reads "Oran[ge?]" in white print.

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

2014.246.2.5ab

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

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

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

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

leather, metal, and batting

Dimensions

H x W x D ((a) On form): 7 1/2 × 4 × 4 in. (19.1 × 10.2 × 10.2 cm)

H x W x D ((b) On form): 7 1/2 × 4 1/4 × 3 3/4 in. (19.1 × 10.8 × 9.5 cm)

Type

cuffs (costume components)

Place used

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

Date

1974

Description

These wrist cuffs are 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 wrist cuffs (.4ab) are alike, shaped to be wider at the forearm and tapering to the wrist. They are made from a single layer of three (3) pieces of black leather, including a gusset sewn at the center, with the edges turned to the reverse and hemmed. The forearm edge has an additional piece of leather wrapped around padding to form a three-dimensional detail. The cuffs are decorated all over with convex silver rounded metal nail head studs. They close with a silver metal zipper that starts at the wrist, with the toggle at the forearm when the cuffs are closed.

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

2014.246.2.4ab

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture