Designed by
Davy, Peter, Saint Vincentian, 1944 - 1990
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Date
1980s
Medium
synthetic fiber, synthetic net, foil thread, sequins, rhinestones, beads, and braided tape, with metal and plastic fasteners
Dimensions
H x W x D (flat): 53 1/4 × 24 1/4 × 3 1/2 in. (135.3 × 61.6 × 8.9 cm)
Description
A metallic gold dress with a cascading ruffle collar designed by Peter Davy. The dress has a short-sleeved fitted bodice with a dropped waist and a plunging V-neck in the back. It is made from a gold synthetic fabric overlaid in semi-sheer metallic gold synthetic fabric. A v-shaped panel of black fabric overlaid in black net is sewn at the center front bodice with the net extending above the solid black fabric slightly in a scalloped line. The panel is embellished with metallic gold embroidered flowers, iridescent silver sequins and seed beads, and silver rhinestones. The panel is trimmed on each side in a row of large faceted iridescent silver sequins with a seed bead in the middle of each sequin. This same embellishment of sequins and beads in a row is sewn around the waistline where the fitted dropped waist joins a gathered full skirt made from the sheer metallic gold fabric, but with no under layer of the solid gold fabric. The bodice has short dolman sleeves, which are hidden by a wide pleated ruffle of the sheer gold fabric that begins at the center of each side of the back bodice and extends over the shoulders and down the front bodice around the embellished black panel. This ruffle and the hem of the skirt are trimmed in thin metallic gold braided tape. The dress closes at the center back with a yellow metal and plastic zipper, with one (1) black metal hook-and-eye at the top of the zipper.
The dress is not lined beyond the under layer of gold fabric. Long hanger loops made from metallic gold cord are sewn at each interior shoulder seam. There are no labels in the dress.
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
2007.3.82
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5e16eb00f-371e-4c1c-9d03-af0adbc3cdf2

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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