On View
Sports Gallery
Exhibition
Sports: Leveling the Playing Field
Worn by
Dr. Thomas, Debra Janine, American, born 1967
Created by
MacDonald Sheehan, Lauren, American, born 1956
Date
1986
Medium
Lycra, spandex, polyester, nylon, beads, and sequins
Dimensions
H x W: 27 3/16 × 14 9/16 in. (69 × 37 cm)
Caption
Debi Thomas wore this purple and black costume when she won the U.S. and World Championships in 1986. Thomas would go on to become the first African American to win a medal at the Winter Olympics when she won a bronze medal in Ladies’ Singles Figure Skating in Calgary in 1988.
Description
A black and purple figure skating costume designed by Lauren Sheehan and worn by Debi Thomas in the 1986 U.S. and World Championships. The costume consists of a black, long-sleeve leotard with attached skirt. The leotard features a deep V at the neck, center back and center of each sleeve with sheer panels in the center and decorative crescent-shaped pieces of fabric in various shades of purple along the edges. They are outlined in clear bugle beads and small rhinestones. The body of the costume and sleeves are also covered in large rhinestones set in silver metal rings.
The skirt of the costume is made up of sheer black pieces of fabric attached to the leotard, with strands of rhinestones, both medium and small. Some of the pieces of sheer black fabric have small, circle sequins at the end, while other have larger petal shaped beads in silver with a rainbow colored design on the back.
On the back of the costume, a tan zipper runs from the neck down to the lower back.
Place used
Geneva, Switzerland, Europe
Uniondale, Nassau County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Clothing - Sports Uniforms
Clothing - Costume
Type
leotards
sports uniforms
Topic
Athletes
Clothing and dress
Figure skating
Sports
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Debra Janine Thomas
Object number
2016.38.1
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd58c6e8911-764f-4a05-9217-041207db696b

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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