Designed by
Lowe, Ann, American, 1898 - 1981
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Date
mid-1950s
Medium
silk taffeta, silk faille, buckram, elastic, and metal fasteners
Dimensions
H x W (flat): 55 1/2 × 42 in. (141 × 106.7 cm)
Description
Cream and red taffeta gown designed by Ann Lowe. The dress is sleeveless with an asymmetric neckline and a full floor-length skirt. The dress is made from cream silk taffeta with dark red taffeta accents. The bodice is fitted to the natural waist and has shoulder straps and a vertically pleated section at the proper left breast that stands slightly taller than the rest of the bodice. The skirt is a faux-wrap that is seamed to an attached petticoat down the center front, with the proper right side folding on top of the proper left side and gathered at the proper left waist. The underside of the fold is lined in dark red taffeta that shows to the facing side in the cascading folds. Two (2) very large loops lined in the dark red are gathered and attached at the proper left waist, both loops falling to the front of the dress. A pleated band of cream taffeta attaches underneath the bow and wraps around the back of the dress, ending at a point in the back with a weight sewn inside the point. The dress closes at the center back with a zipper and one (1) hook-and-eye.
The interior of the bodice is lined in cream silk faille. Boning is sewn into the lining around the bodice. Circles of soft padding cased in the cream faille are sewn at each breast cup. A thin band of elastic is tacked across the front bodice outlining the bottom breast cups. A wider band of elastic is tacked at the center front under the bust and fastens at the center back with two (2) metal hook-and-eyes. An interior waist band support made from cream ribbon is sewn around the interior waist, fastening at the center back with two (2) metal hook-and-eyes. Hanger loops made from cream ribbon are sewn at each interior side. The attached silk faille and buckram crinoline of the skirt fastens at the center back interior skirt with one (1) metal snap and one (1) metal hook-and-eye at the top of the crinoline. Both the crinoline and the skirt hem are trimmed in plastic buckram. A white fabric label with black embroidered text is sewn to the interior center front of the waist band support that reads "fashioned exclusively / at / Ann Lowe's / Gowns".
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
Social life and customs
Women
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
2007.3.25
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd56512c80d-35e6-43dc-b60f-73d23cdbd35b

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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