Black and purple figure skating costume worn by Debi Thomas

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.

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.