- Created by
- Lowe, Ann, American, 1898 - 1981
- Subject of
- Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
- Date
- 1957-1967
- Medium
- silk charmeuse, silk charmeuse damask, silk, synthetic fiber, metal, and metal thread
- Dimensions
- H x W (flat): 44 1/2 × 9 1/2 in. (113 × 24.1 cm)
- Waist: 7 in. (17.8 cm)
- Caption
- This miniature dress is part of the Evyan Collection of First Lady Inaugural Gowns. Starting in 1957, for the launch of their Great Lady perfume, the Evyan perfume house commissioned several designers, including Ann Lowe, to replicate 29 inaugural gowns of the American First Ladies in miniature form. Lowe created six sets of inaugural gowns based on the originals, which are on exhibit in the First Ladies’ Hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
- Description
- A miniature copy of First Lady Truman's evening gown by Ann Lowe. The a-line silhouette dress has a V neckline, long sleeves, and a full-length skirt. The bodice is made of mauve silk charmeuse and has a center front seam and one dart bust on each side below the armscye. The skirt is constructed of mauve silk charmeuse floral damask. The skirt has a total of eight gores that are narrow at the waistline and widen at the hemline. Dark gold flower appliques are machine stitched to dress skirt and bodice. The silk embroidered appliques have gold metallic thread embroidery on the petals towards the center of the flower. Portions of the same floral damask that is used to construct the dress’s skirt are placed underneath the appliqued gold flowers on the bodice and along the neckline. The dress opens in the center back with a metal zipper. Two darts are sewn to the back of each sleeve along the inner seam. Appliqued pieces of the silk charmeuse floral damask are stitched to the back of the bodice ending at the waistline. The back of the skirt is longer than the front which leads into a small train. The bodice is lined with cream silk that is hand-stitched to the bodice interior along neckline, and machine stitched in all other areas. The skirt lining is constructed of cream synthetic that also has eight gores. It is entirely machine sewn. The dress has no labels.
- 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
- Place collected
- 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
- Black Enterprise
- Clothing and dress
- Fashion
- Fashion design
- Politics
- 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
- 2007.3.30
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




