On View
Taking the Stage Gallery
Exhibition
Taking the Stage
Manufactured by
Executive Apparel, American, founded 1934
Worn by
Berry, Halle, American, born 1966
Date
2001
Medium
a: polyester and cotton blend cloth, plastic buttons;
b: plastic and metal
Dimensions
H x W: 44 x 20 1/2 in. (111.8 x 52.1 cm)
Description
This teal waitress uniform dress (a) and name tag (b) were worn by Halle Berry as Leticia Musgrove in the film Monster's Ball (2001). The fitted short-sleeved dress reaches below the knee and is made from dark teal polyester cotton blend fabric. It closes at the center front with six (6) round white plastic buttons. The front opening reaches from the neck to below the waist, not to the hem. The collar and decorative panels on the cuffs of the sleeves are made from white polyester and cotton blend fabric. There are two (2) inset pockets, one at each side hip sewn into the side seams. The dress is not lined. A white manufacturer's label with burgundy embroidered text reading "EXECUTIVE / APPAREL / MADE IN U.S.A." is sewn at the interior center back neck with the name "LETICIA" handwritten in the bottom right corner in black ink. Below the manufacturer's label is a white fabric label with black printed text detailing the size, fiber content, and care.
The name tag (b) is pinned to the dress on the proper left front just below the collar. It is a rectangular piece of black plastic with a cream plastic panel adhered to the front that has engraved lines reading "LETICIA". It fastens with a metal rolling safety clasp that is adhered to the center of the back.
Place depicted
Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Clothing-Costume
Type
dresses
uniform
Topic
Actors
Clothing and dress
Costume
Film
Race relations
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2011.125ab
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5e944a59e-eccc-4354-aeb9-d30492846272

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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