- On View
- Musical Crossroads Gallery
- Museum Maps
- Objects in this Location
- Exhibition
- Musical Crossroads
- Designed by
- Wells, Louis, born 1957
- Worn by
- White, Verdine, American, born 1951
- Subject of
- Earth, Wind & Fire, American, founded 1969
- Date
- 2004-2013
- Medium
- synthetic fiber, rhinestone buttons, sequins, beads, and beaded fringe
- Dimensions
- H x W (flat): 20 × 13 in. (50.8 × 33 cm)
- Description
- A white and black men's cropped vest designed by Louis Wells and worn by Verdine White, bassist for Earth, Wind & Fire. The front and back of the vest are made from a white damask in a floral burst design, with white cording stitched around the damask design and pearlized white beads and sequins sewn inside portions of the design. The front side openings are trimmed in black satin with sixteen (16) large clear rhinestone buttons, eight on each side, serving as decoration only. The center front opening of the vest has no closure method. The hem of the vest on the front and back is trimmed in black twill fabric with a black velvet vine design. Black beaded fringe is attached around the upper edge of the black trim, with each strand containg small round black beads and one larger teardrop bead at the end. The vest is fully lined in the black fabric used to trim the exterior hem. A black fabric tag is sewn at the interior center back neck with white embroidered text reading "LOUIS WELLS" above a phone number that is blacked out with marker.
- Classification
- Clothing - Costume
- Type
- vests (main garments)
- Topic
- Clothing and dress
- Costume
- Costume design
- Design
- Instrumentalists (Musicians)
- Soul (Music)
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Costume Designer Bernard G. Jacobs
- Object number
- 2015.147.3.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




