- Designed by
- Arthur McGee, American, 1933 - 2019
- Subject of
- Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
- Date
- 1965-1990
- Medium
- wool synthetic blend, silk satin, synthetic twill, padding, linen canvas, buckram, plastic, metal, and monofilament thread
- Dimensions
- a: jacket
- Length (a: shoulder to hem): 29 in. (73.7 cm)
- Width (a: shoulder to shoulder): 16 1/4 in. (41.3 cm)
- Waist (flat): 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm)
- b: pants
- Length (b: waist to hem): 42 in. (106.7 cm)
- Waist (b: flat): 13 in. (33 cm)
- Description
- A black tuxedo jacket and pants designed by Arthur McGee. The wool blend jacket (a) is single breasted and closes with one black plastic button on the proper right side by the center front opening. A buttonhole is sewn next to the button which aligns with a button that was previously sewn to the interior of the proper left side but is now missing. There is a single notched lapel made of wool blend on the top half and silk satin on the bottom half. Hand stitching is used on the backside of the lapel along the notch. Three black plastic buttons are sewn to the bottom of the proper right sleeve, one button is sewn to the proper left sleeve, the other buttons are missing. An eight-inch shaping dart and two double welted pockets are sewn to each side of the center front opening. The back of the jacket has a center back seam and two side back seams. A ten and a quarter inch vent is along the center back seam. Linen canvas is placed between the lining and exterior fabric at the front of the jacket. Buckram interfacing is used along the vent and is placed along the lining and exterior fabric. The jacket is lined with synthetic twill, an extra layer of padding is placed at the shoulders. A double welted pocket is sewn at the chest on each side of the center front opening along the lining. The garment is mostly pieced together with machine stitching, but the edges of the lining are hand stitched to the exterior. A fabric label is tacked to the center back of the collar which reads [ARTHUR McGEE].
- The pants (b) are made of synthetic twill and have a self-fabric waistband. The pants open in the center front, a black plastic button is sewn to the interior proper left side of the waistband which aligns with a buttonhole on the proper right side of the waistband. A slightly larger black plastic button is sewn to the exterior proper right side of the waistband which aligns with a buttonhole on the other side. A metal zipper is sewn along the center front opening which is set with a synthetic twill ribbon. Buckram is placed along the waistband. Pockets are sewn to each side which start at the waistband, they have a cotton lining. A crease is set on the center front and back of each pant leg. A three-quarter inch synthetic satin ribbon is sewn to the exterior side of each pant leg. The edges of the pants have pinked edges which are folded inwards and sewn with monofilament thread. Two darts are sewn to each pant leg along the waistband. The pants are machine sewn, unlined, and unlabeled.
- Cataloging Notes
- This project received Federal support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
- Place made
- New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- Black Fashion Museum Collection
- Classification
- Clothing - Fashion and Historical
- Topic
- Black Enterprise
- 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
- 2007.3.130ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




