- Designed by
- Davy, Peter, Saint Vincentian, 1944 - 1990
- Subject of
- Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
- Date
- 1980s
- Medium
- Synthetic plissé chiffon, synthetic satin ribbon, plastic, metal and cotton, synthetic horsehair, and lace
- Dimensions
- H x W x D (flat): 58 × 33 3/4 × 3 1/2 in. (147.3 × 85.7 × 8.9 cm)
- Description
- A black long-sleeved, floor-length dress with red ribbon embellishment designed by Peter Davy. The dress is made from an under layer of black fabric, probably polyester or polyester and cotton blend, overlaid in sheer textured black chiffon. The bodice is fitted to the waistline, which falls between the natural waist and hip. It has a V-neck front and high back neckline. Red satin ribbon 3/8-inch wide is sewn all over the front and back bodice in a lattice design. A pleated ruffle of the black textured chiffon trimmed in red satin ribbon begins at the center back bodice and extends over the shoulders and down the front bodice around the neckline. Full-length sleeves made from the textured chiffon, but without the black fabric under layer, form the sleeves. The upper part of the sleeves are blousy, with a slight pouf at the shoulder seam, and then fit tight around the arm from forearm to wrist. The tight part of the sleeves are embellished with the red satin ribbon in the same lattice pattern as the bodice and close with seven (7) red ribbon loops and seven (7) round pearlized plastic buttons on each sleeve. The full skirt of the dress is pleated at the waist and is made from two (2) layers of the textured black chiffon. The red ribbon lattice design is sewn on the top layer from the waistline to about the knee, with portions extending down almost to the hemline in deep V's around the skirt. The dress closes at the center back bodice with a black metal and plastic zipper.
- The dress is not lined beyond the black under layer in the bodice or the inner layer of black chiffon of the skirt. A piece of black synthetic net is doubled over, gathered, and sewn at the top of each interior sleeve 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
- 2007.3.97
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




