Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

Dress worn by Diahann Carroll on the television show Julia

African American Museum

This media is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

    Object Details

    Designed by

    William Travilla, American, 1920 - 1990

    Worn by

    Diahann Carroll, American, 1935 - 2019

    Subject of

    Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

    Description

    Dress worn by Diahann Carroll as the character Julia Baker on the television show "Julia." The pink and cream dress is a full-length, long-sleeved gown with a high neck. A sleeveless bodice and full skirt made from pink taffeta is overlaid with a double layer of pale cream chiffon, with the chiffon covering the entire skirt and forming the upper bodice and sleeves. Large floral sprays are machine embroidered in cream thread on the chiffon. The hem of the skirt, the cuffs of the sleeves, and the neck are edged with cream lace in an openwork design. The dress closes with a zipper at the center back. The cuffs and the neck fasten with metal hook-and-eye closures, two (2) at each cuff and three (3) at the center back neck. There is a pale pink satin belt with a self fabric-covered decorative buckle at the high waistline that closes with three (3) metal snaps and three (3) metal hook-and-eyes.
    The pink lower bodice and skirt of the dress are self-lined, with an additional paler pink petticoat attached under the lining of the skirt. The upper bodice is lined with a brown net, giving a darker hue to this section of the gown under the chiffon overlay. The sleeves are not lined.

    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

    1968-1971

    Object number

    2007.3.38

    Restrictions & Rights

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

    Type

    dresses

    Medium

    taffeta, chiffon, rayon thread, lace, and metal closures

    Dimensions

    H x W x D (Dress on form): 61 × 26 1/4 × 17 in. (154.9 × 66.7 × 43.2 cm)

    Place used

    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 - Costume

    Exhibition

    Taking the Stage

    On View

    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

    Data Source

    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Topic

    African American
    Clothing and dress
    Costume
    Costume design
    Design
    Sitcoms

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5958a67c4-80d0-4864-8feb-c58bed037203

    Record ID

    nmaahc_2007.3.38

    Discover More

    Becky Sharp's gown from the play Hamilton.

    Best Dressed: Fashion Trends and Famous Wearers

    arrow-up Back to top
    Home
    • Facebook facebook
    • Instagram instagram
    • LinkedIn linkedin
    • YouTube youtube

    • Contact Us
    • Get Involved
    • Shop Online
    • Job Opportunities
    • Equal Opportunity
    • Inspector General
    • Records Requests
    • Accessibility
    • Host Your Event
    • Press Room
    • Privacy
    • Terms of Use