Beaded floral sheath dress worn by Dinah Washington

This gold silk floral print sheath dress was worn by Dinah Washington. The dress has a natural waistline with no seam at the bodice. Pleats are sewn in the bodice and front waist to create a fitted silhouette. The gold silk satin is overlaid with cream silk chiffon that is printed in an allover design of mid-sized coral colored flowers. The printed flowers are outlined in gold bugle beads. At the scoop front neckline, V-neck back neckline, and over the shoulders the flowers are cut out so portions of them extend beyond the dress and are backed with the gold silk satin for stabilization. The dress closes at the center back with a cream plastic invisible zipper that extends from the back neckline to below the waist and one (1) hook-and-eye at the top of the zipper. There is a slit cut at the center back skirt approximately ten (10) inches long with an additional panel of silk overlaid in chiffon sewn behind the slit. The bodice and skirt are fully lined in an off-white synthetic faille.