Designed by
Davy, Peter, Saint Vincentian, 1944 - 1990
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Date
1980s
Medium
velour, synthetic fiber, lace, sequins, beads, and foil braid, with metal and plastic zipper
Dimensions
H x W x D (flat): 51 1/2 × 18 1/4 × 1/2 in. (130.8 × 46.4 × 1.3 cm)
Description
A fitted black velour dress with gold sequin and bead embellished cut-outs designed by Peter Davy. The dress has a halter neck with the back bodice dipping into a shallow V. There is no waist seam between the fitted bodice and the straight sheath skirt, which has a thigh-high slit at the proper left side. A row of faceted metallic sequins with a seed bead at the middle of each sequin is sewn cross the front neck, with a long piece of gold metallic braided tape extending from each side of the neck and tying at the back neck. Four (4) diamond shaped cut-outs are placed on the front bodice. Each cut-out is filled with a very open gold metallic lace fabric trimmed in a row of faceted gold sequins with a seed bead at the middle of each sequin. The top and bottom diamonds have a paillette made from gold faceted sequins and gold bugle and seed beads sewn in a stylized leafy cluster. The side diamonds, which cover the breasts, have larger sequin and bead paillettes in a five-petal stylized flower design. The slit of the skirt is trimmed in a row of gold sequined woven tape, with a row of larger faceted metallic sequins sewn over the tape and each larger sequin having a seed bead at the middle. Twenty-two (22) lengths of fringe made from gold beads with a clear tear-drop bead on each tip are sewn at intervals around both sides of the slit, eleven (11) on each side. The dress closes at the center back bodice with a black metal and plastic zipper.
The back bodice is lined in black synthetic fabric, and the front bodice is lined only around the front neckline. Two (2) pieces of boning are sewn between the lining and the facing, one at each back side. The rest of the dress is not lined. Black hanger loops are sewn at each interior side seam. There are no labels in the dress.
Place made
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Black Fashion Museum Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Type
dresses
Topic
Clothing and dress
Design
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
2007.3.100
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd52197b90c-4153-4945-8514-02972d3a706b

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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