Object Details
Designed by
Peter Davy, Saint Vincentian, 1944 - 1990
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Description
A turquoise blue dress with a nude bodice embellished in turquoise blue and silver, and a full ruffled skirt. The bodice of the dress is made from a brown sheer chiffon fabric and shaped with a high rounded front neckline and open back, and full-length fitted sleeves. Turquoise blue machine lace flowers are cut and placed strategically at the shoulders, cuffs, and breasts in groups of four (4). Each flower is hand decorated with seven (7) small clear rhinestones attached at the center, and large flat iridescent white beads sewn around the lace flower petals. In the middle of the four (4) flowers at each breast are a cluster of iridescent clear sequins in varying sizes with a silver seed bead sewn at the center of each sequin. This same design element is used below the topmost of the four (4) flowers on each shoulder. Long strands of silver bugle and seed bead fringe are sewn within the flower clusters of each shoulder and left loose to dangle down the arms. A line of small iridescent clear sequins each with a silver seed bead in the middle is sewn around the entire neckline. The stiff, wide waistband sits high on the waist and is made from turquoise blue satin overlaid in turquoise blue net lace with an all-over pattern of blue woven dots. The full, floor-length skirt is made from the same materials as the waistband, with the heavy weight satin overlaid in the net lace. The net lace overlay is trimmed with a wide ruffled hem. The dress closes at the center back with a metal and plastic zipper that begins at the waistband and extends into the skirt.
Thick shoulder pads are sewn inside a double layer of the brown chiffon and attached to each interior shoulder. Small pieces of brown floral lace are cut and hand sewn at the interior of each breast to cover the wearer's nipples. Hanger loops made from the brown chiffon are sewn at each interior side shoulder. The skirt is not lined beyond the under layer of turquoise blue satin. A white fabric label with black printed text is sewn at the interior proper left back waistband 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
2007.3.79
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Type
dresses
Medium
synthetic satin, synthetic lace, synthetic chiffon, sequins, rhinestones, and beads, with metal and plastic zipper
Dimensions
H x W x D (flat): 58 1/2 × 49 × 6 in. (148.6 × 124.5 × 15.2 cm)
H x W x D (on form): 56 3/4 × 29 × 26 in. (144.1 × 73.7 × 66 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
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.79