On View
Musical Crossroads Gallery
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
Designed by
M. Julian, American, 1975 - 2000
Owned by
Blow, Kurtis, American, born 1959
Date
1981
Medium
leather, synthetic fiber, metal, and elastic
Dimensions
H x W (flat): 26 × 23 in. (66 × 58.4 cm)
Description
This black and red leather jacket was worn by Kurtis Blow on the cover of his album "Deuce" (1981). The motorcycle style jacket has full-length sleeves, a stand-up collar, and closes at the center front with a black zipper and five (5) metal snaps painted red. There is a red leather racing strip down each sleeve that extends onto the shoulders, with the collar also faced in red leather. The sleeves taper slightly at the wrist, ending in elastic cuffs. The waistline of the jacket body also has an elastic edge. The elastic on the waist and cuffs is sewn inside the black leather so it does not show. There are two (2) exterior diagonally oriented inset pockets, one at each front hip, that are edged with the red leather and lined with black acetate fabric.
The interior of the jacket body and sleeves are fully lined with the black acetate fabric. There is one (1) interior inset pocket at the proper left breast that is edged in black leather and closes with a black zipper. There is a designer label at the interior center back neck made of white fabric with maroon machine embroidered stitching that reads "M. Julian". A size tag is sewn to the center bottom of the designer label reading "38". There are three (3) additional tags sewn into the proper right side seam with size, fiber content, and care instructions typed onto the cream fabric in brown text. There is a cream fabric hanger loop sewn at the interior center back neck.
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Type
jackets
Topic
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Hip-hop (Music)
Rappers (Musicians)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Kurtis Walker PKA Kurtis Blow
Object number
2015.185
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5dd4ccc7c-c7ad-48ad-9a69-f360e166d040

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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