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Red dress with ruffled collar designed by Peter Davy

African American Museum

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    Object Details

    Designed by

    Peter Davy, Saint Vincentian, 1944 - 1990

    Subject of

    Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

    Description

    A red organza and satin dress with a ruffled collar and lace, bead, and sequin embellishments designed by Peter Davy. The body of the dress is made from red satin overlaid in red organza. The bodice of the dress has a low-cut straight front neckline and a high back neckline. A panel similar to a stomacher is sewn at the front bodice, ending in a point at the waist, made from white satin fabric overlaid in red net floral lace decorated in red sequins and beads. A pleated ruffle made from the red organza borders the stomacher panel and continues over the shoulders and around the high back neck. A panel of the white satin overlaid in red lace with sequin and beading decoration is sewn across the back neck to make a standing collar, with the organza ruffle extending above it. The dress is fitted through the bodice with a sheath skirt that has a thigh-high slit at the proper left front. A paillette made from white synthetic knit fabric overlaid in red net floral lace and decorated with red sequins and beads is sewn above the slit. The full-length sleeves are made from the sheer red organza. The tapered cuffs of each sleeve are embellished with white synthetic knit fabric overlaid in red net floral lace, which is decorated with red sequins and beads. The dress closes at the center back with a red metal and plastic zipper. One (1) metal snap is attached at the center back to join the sides of the organza ruffle.
    The dress is not lined. White hanger loops are sewn at each interior shoulder seam. Red net encased in the red organza is gathered and sewn at the interior of each sleeve shoulder seam. The interior hem and skirt slit are trimmed in red floral lace. A white fabric label with black printed text is sewn at the interior proper right back side that reads, "An Original / by / Peter Davy" with three (3) black diamonds down the proper left side of the label.

    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

    1985-1990

    Object number

    2007.3.103

    Restrictions & Rights

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

    Type

    dresses

    Medium

    synthetic organza, synthetic satin, synthetic lace, sequins, and beads, with metal and plastic fasteners

    Dimensions

    H x W x D (flat): 58 3/4 × 24 × 6 in. (149.2 × 61 × 15.2 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

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5145526a9-4fda-407c-8620-46522bd88348

    Record ID

    nmaahc_2007.3.103

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