Designed by
Davy, Peter, Saint Vincentian, 1944 - 1990
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Date
1980s
Medium
synthetic fiber, sequins, beads, and rhinestones, with metal and plastic zipper, and Velcro (TM)
Dimensions
H x W x D (flat): 56 1/2 × 24 × 2 in. (143.5 × 61 × 5.1 cm)
Description
A long-sleeved, floor-length dress with all-over white iridescent sequins and additional beaded and rhinestone embellishments designed by Peter Davy. The dress has a plunging V-neck front and back bodice and full-length fitted sleeves. It has a wide, fitted waistband at the natural waist, with a floor-length sheath skirt having a thigh-high slit at the proper left front side. The dress is made from a white semi-sheer synthetic fabric that is almost entirely hidden by thick rows of white iridescent sequins. A large stylized leaf paillette in clear, white iridescent, silver, and pearl sequins, beads, and rhinestones is attached at each top shoulder. Loops of white iridescent beaded strands are attached along the front and back sides of the proper left paillette, but only the front side of the proper right paillette. There are three (3) strands of the beaded fringe at the cuff of each sleeve. The waistband has a small scalloped edge trimmed in white seed beads, with the background of the band covered in large white sequins and a decorative stylized flower and vine at the center front made from smaller white sequins, large clear rhinestones, pearl and silver seed beads, round pearl beads, and oval clear beads. The top of the waistband tapers upward toward the center front, where the open plunging V-neck meets the waist. A large white iridescent beaded flower paillette is attached at the top of the slit in the skirt, with clusters of clear and white sequins and beads cascading below it. Additional stylized floral and leaf beaded, sequin, and rhinestone paillettes are attached along each side of the slit. Long strands of beaded white iridescent fringe extend below the paillettes along the slit. The back bodice has a strand of this fringe that reaches from the proper left back shoulder across and attaches with a hook-and-eye to the interior proper right back shoulder. Two (2) longer strands of beads are looped across the back. A doubled panel of the white iridescent sequin fabric is attached at each back shoulder, forming a cowl that hangs loose from the body of the back bodice of the dress. The dress closes at the center back with a white metal and plastic zipper. The waistband closes over the zipper at the center back with Velcro.
The dress is fully lined in white synthetic knit fabric. Thick shoulder pads are attached between the facing and lining fabrics at each shoulder. The interior hem and slit of the skirt are trimmed in white floral machine-made synthetic lace. 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
2007.3.89
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd548527d3a-415a-4288-83c6-18a7791857f9

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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