On View
Musical Crossroads Gallery
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
Designed by
Blakely, Dorian
Worn by
Hendryx, Nona, American, born 1944
Subject of
Labelle, American, founded 1962
Date
1974
Medium
plastic, synthetic fiber, leather, metal, batting, and Velcro™
Dimensions
H x W x D (a): 19 × 9 1/4 × 3 3/4 in. (48.3 × 23.5 × 9.5 cm)
H x W x D (b): 18 × 3 3/4 × 9 3/8 in. (45.7 × 9.5 × 23.8 cm)
Description
These boots are part of a costume worn by Nona Hendryx of Labelle. The costume consists of a headdress (.1), a cape (.2), silver studded black leather collar, breast covers, and codpiece (.3a-d), wrist cuffs (.4ab), platform boots (.5ab), prop handcuffs (.6), and a prop riding crop (.7).
The two platform boots (.5ab) are both alike, made from modified open-toed ankle-strap platform heel shoes with customized uppers. The leg covers were permanently attached to the platform heel shoes, using small brads and larger flat-headed nails. The shoes have wooden platforms, black satin toe straps, and ankle straps. The ankle straps close at the outer ankle with a silver metal buckle. Black Velcro™ is nailed to each back side of the platform heel, with both sides of the Velcro™ stuck together and having an unclear purpose. Convex silver rounded metal nail head studs are nailed around all sides of the platform. The uppers of the foot and the leg covers are made from a single layer of black leather. An additional piece of black leather is wrapped around padding and sewn along the top edge to form a three-dimensional decorative element. The leather is decorated all over with convex silver rounded metal nail head studs. The covers close up the center back with a silver metal zipper. There are two (2) studs in the bottom of the right shoe (b), one on the back edge of the ball of the foot, the other on the outer edge of the heel. There is a stamp on the insole of the right shoe (b) that reads "Oran[ge?]" in white print.
This costume is very similar to a costume worn by Hendryx during a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House on October 6, 1974.
Place used
Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, Manhattan County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Clothing-Costume
Movement
Afrofuturism
Type
boots
Topic
Clothing and dress
Costume
Costume design
Design
Disco (Music)
Funk (Music)
Rhythm and blues (Music)
Rock and roll (Music)
Singers (Musicians)
Soul (Music)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Nona Hendryx of Labelle
Object number
2014.246.2.5ab
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5f878be78-7f25-4248-94e8-3fe367e58efa

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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