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Dress designed by Ann Lowe

African American Museum

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    Object Details

    Designed by

    Ann Lowe, American, 1898 - 1981

    Subject of

    Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

    Description

    A sleeveless black cocktail dress with handmade pink floral decorations designed by Ann Lowe. The bodice is made of black chiffon, and has a scoop neck and princess seams.
    The neckline is trimmed with a decorative vine of green satin leaves and pink satin rose buds, completed with a full-blown pink satin rose at the center front bust. The skirt consists of an underskirt of black taffeta lined with black net, covered by a tightly-pleated overskirt of black chiffon that gives the skirt fullness and movement. A green satin cummerbund waistband is accented with a pink satin and organza handmade rose in full bloom that is basted to the proper left front hip. The dress closes in the back with a zipper running from the top of the center back bodice to below the waist.
    The interior of the bodice is lined with black taffeta fabric. In the front and back of the bodice, boning is sewn at regular intervals to provide structure and shaping. Individual breast cups are shaped into the cut of the garment. A thin piece of elastic, attached in three places at the proper left, center front and proper right, provides support underneath the bust line. A wider elastic band is tacked at the center front and closes in the center back with two hook-and-eyes to provide further bust support. An interior waistband of black grosgrain ribbon is tacked to the interior waistline and closes at the center back. The black taffeta underskirt serves as the petticoat. It attaches to the waist at the center back with a hook-and-eye and a metal snap. There is no label in the dress.

    Credit Line

    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane

    Date

    ca. 1960

    Object number

    2007.3.22

    Restrictions & Rights

    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

    Type

    dresses

    Medium

    silk, chiffon, taffeta, net, metal, and elastic

    Dimensions

    H x W x D (On form): 42 1/2 × 24 × 16 1/2 in. (108 × 61 × 41.9 cm)
    Waist: 24 in. (61 cm)

    Place made

    New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

    See more items in

    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

    Collection title

    Black Fashion Museum Collection

    Classification

    Clothing - Fashion and Historical

    Data Source

    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Topic

    African American
    Clothing and dress
    Design
    Fashion
    Fashion design
    Social life and customs
    Women

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5a539d68e-5d7f-4fb8-bad4-5eacbc8cf89c

    Record ID

    nmaahc_2007.3.22

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