- Created by
- Unidentified
- Subject of
- Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
- Date
- 1900s
- Medium
- synthetic, cotton Irish crochet lace, boning, metal, silk chiffon, and glass
- Dimensions
- L x W: 26 × 14 in. (66 × 35.6 cm)
- Waist: 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm)
- Description
- A black pleated bodice with a lace neckline and cuffs. The bodice is made of black synthetic and has a high band collar with a V neckline and yoke filled with cream cotton Irish crochet lace. The bodice opens in the center front with twelve metal hooks on the lace yoke, seven metal hooks at the exterior bodice, and seven metal hooks on the interior bodice. Metal eyes on the other side of the center front opening match up with the metal hooks. Five pleats are sewn to the top of each shoulder which continue down to the waist. The long sleeves are gathered at the top of the shoulder and end in a band at the bottom of the elbow. Five glass dcorative buttons are sewn to a six and a half inch lace cuff at the bottom of the sleeve band. An oversleeve is pleated and sewn at the armscye and also tacked to the interior sleeve seam. Six stuffed black crochet balls are sewn to the top edge of the oversleeve. A waistband with three pleats made of black synthetic are sewn to the bottom of the bodice. The waistband opens in the center front and secures with three metal hooks on the proper right side and three metal eyes on the proper left side. Six decorative metal buttons with leaves are sewn to the center of the waistband. Four pleats are sewn to the center back of the bodice. Two folded self-fabric tails are sewn to the center back bottom of the bodice. Each of the tails has three stuffed black crochet balls sewn along the edge. The collar fastens with five metal hooks and eyes at the proper left and center back. Five pieces of thin boning possibly baleen, encased in cream silk are placed along the inside of the collar. The inside of the lace along the collar, yoke and sleeve cuffs are lined with cream silk chiffon. The inside of the bodice is lined with black silk. Eleven pieces of boning, possibly metal is sewn at the bodice’s interior. The boning is encased with black ribbon. The exterior seams are machine sewn while the majority of the stitches at the interior are hand sewn. A hanger loop made of black twill ribbon is sewn to each armseye.
- 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
- bodices
- 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
- 2007.3.667
- Restrictions & Rights
- No known copyright restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




