Designed by
Davy, Peter, Saint Vincentian, 1944 - 1990
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Date
1980s
Medium
velvet , synthetic lace, synthetic faille, sequins, and beads, with metal and plastic zipper
Dimensions
H x W x D (flat): 47 × 18 1/2 × 1 1/4 in. (119.4 × 47 × 3.2 cm)
Description
A merlot fitted velvet dress with black lace, and gold and black beading and sequin details designed by Peter Davy. The dress is made from the merlot velvet, with no waist seam, and a straight ankle-length sheath skirt with a thigh-high slit at the proper left side. The bodice has a high neckline, but the front has a deep scalloped v-shaped cut-out that is then filled in with machine-made black synthetic lace net with a woven design of small black dots. A strip of three rows of gold, black, and gold sequins trims the cut-out. The same lace is used to make the full-length fitted cuff-less sleeves. A standing collar is made from a double layer of the black net lace, with a strip of the three rows of gold and black sequins between the neck and the bodice. Gold and black beaded chevron panels are sewn at the top of each shoulder, with strands of gold and black beaded fringe dangling off the side above the sleeves. The slit on the skirt is trimmed in a row of gold and a row of black sequins, with ten (10) lengths of black and gold fringe sewn at intervals down the slit. The dress closes at the center back with a black metal and plastic zipper.
The dress is lined in black synthetic faille, except at the lace cut-out and the sleeves. A white fabric label with black printed text is sewn at the interior proper right back bodice that reads, "An Original / by / Peter Davy" with three (3) black diamonds down the proper left side of the label.
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
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
2007.3.80
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5cb0706e5-9879-4432-911a-6a74b541f4a9

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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