Created by
Unidentified
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Date
1965-1980
Medium
silk velvet, silk crepe de chine, glass beads, plastic, and elastic
Dimensions
L x W (a. top): 19 1/2 × 18 1/2 in. (49.5 × 47 cm)
L x W (b. skirt): 22 × 14 in. (55.9 × 35.6 cm)
Description
A beaded orange velvet sleeveless evening top and matching skirt. The top (a) has a high band collar and is made of orange silk velvet embellished with clear iridescent glass bugle and sea beads with hexagons and geometric patterning. The collar is heavily embellished with three rows of trim made of white iridescent plastic sequins and looped white synthetic cording with iridescent filament. Two hooks and eyes are sewn to the proper right side of the collar. The top of the front bodice panel is gathered under the collar and slightly at the hem. A two-and-a-half-inch wide band is sewn to the bottom of the front bodice panel. This band extends beyond the bodice panel and fastens at the center back with a pair of metal hooks and eyes at each end. The back of the top has a rounded neckline and is slightly gathered at the hem. A two and a half inch wide band is sewn to the hem and extends beyond the back bodice panel which wraps around and ties at the center front. The front and back bodice panels are left open at the sides. The top is lined with orange silk crepe de chine and is machine stitched to the silk velvet. The bands along the hemline are double layered. White elastic is hand stitched to each side of the front bodice panel with a metal hook on the proper left side and a metal eye on the proper right side.
The matching knee length skirt (b) has a self-fabric waistband with an additional length across the front that attaches to the proper left side with two hook and eye closures. The skirt is made of orange velvet and has the same embellishment patterning as the top, but it is placed on a perpendicular grain. The skirt opens at the front, offset to the proper right with two hooks and eyes at the waistband and three on the skirt. The opening is sewn past the bottom hook and eye and continues into a ten and a half inch side slit. An inverted pleat is sewn to the proper left side of the skirt and on the back of the skirt offset to the proper right. The skirt is lined with orange silk crepe de chine and is hand stitched to the silk velvet at the hemline.
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.
Collection title
Black Fashion Museum Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Type
ensembles (costume)
shirts
skirts
Topic
Clothing and dress
Fashion
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
2007.3.657ab
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd54770eecc-f069-49d8-9a31-d381cb07f842

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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