Designed by
Davy, Peter, Saint Vincentian, 1944 - 1990
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Date
1980s
Medium
synthetic knit fiber, synthetic lace, sequins, and beads, with metal and plastic zipper
Dimensions
H x W x D (flat): 57 3/4 × 25 × 1 1/8 in. (146.7 × 63.5 × 2.9 cm)
Description
A red dress with bead and sequin embellishments and red and gold lace designed by Peter Davy. The dress is made from a red semi-sheer synthetic knit fabric, with the back bodice and sleeves made from a red floral machine-made synthetic lace with metallic gold detailing. The bodice is fitted with a V-neck front neckline and a high back neckline. Two paillettes shaped in a row of beaded leafy vines in red seed beads and sequins are sewn at each front side of the bodice. A larger scale red sequin and bugle bead leaf paillette is sewn at the center front bodice between the two smaller scale leaf paillettes. The neckline and waistline are trimmed in red floral machine-made synthetic lace with red sequin borders. The back bodice and full-length fitted sleeves with pouf shoulders are made entirely from red and gold large-scale floral machine-made synthetic lace, creating a sheer back and sleeves as the lace is not lined. The cuffs of each sleeve are made from red sequined woven tape. The floor-length skirt is comprised of several layers of the red semi-sheer synthetic knit fabric. The center, innermost layer is a sheath skirt with a seventeen (17) inch center back slit. Two overskirts are sewn at the waist, both with handkerchief hemlines trimmed in red floral machine-made synthetic lace. The topmost layer of the skirt is shorter, serving as a sort of peplum. The middle layer reaches to the hemline of the sheath skirt at the longest points of the handkerchief hemline. The dress closes at the center back bodice with a red metal and plastic zipper.
The front bodice and sheath skirt are lined in a tan synthetic knit fabric. Red net fabric is gathered and sewn at the interior of each shoulder to provide support for the pouf sleeves. 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
2007.3.106
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5da0c36b0-7003-42bf-93d9-e5daed196214

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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