- Created by
- Unidentified
- Subject of
- Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
- Date
- 1940s - 1950s
- Medium
- wool twill, silk, linen, grosgrain, plastic, and metal
- Dimensions
- Length: 22 in (55.9 cm)
- Width: 51 in. (129.5 cm)
- Neck Circumference: 16 in. (40.6 cm)
- Description
- A black double-tiered cape with decorative bows and buckles. Both tiers of the cape are constructed from two semi-circles of black wool twill that are stitched together at the center back. The top tier is shorter, measuring 9.75” in length, while the longer tier measures 22”. Each shoulder has two darts for shaping. There is a black grosgrain ribbon at each collar’s lapel with two loops and a knot. Each ribbon is held in place by two metal straight pins and a tacking stitch. A black rectangular buckle with black faceted squares is sewn on top of each black ribbon with taking stitches and the buckle’s metal prong punctures the ribbon knot’s center. The capelet opens at the center front and fastens with four sets of metal hook and eye closures. The metal eyes are located on a 6” long self-fabric panel sewn to the capelet’s proper left edge. All edges of the capelet are finished with a .75” single fold that is double stitched with machine stitching. All the raw edges at the hems and seams are finished with black silk-wool blend twill binding. The center back seam is reinforced at the interior with a 2.25” wide brown canvas interfacing that is then covered with a 2.25” black silk ribbon. There is no label.
- 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
- 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
- 2007.3.678
- Restrictions & Rights
- No known copyright restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




