Object Details
- Description
- A gold metallic floral shift dress and jacket made of syntenic and metallic thread brocade. The dress (a) has wide V neckline with a one-and-a-half-inch band of gold trim sewn along the edge. The trim is made of two bands of black syntenic, and gold metallic thread cording arranged in mirrored scalloped patterning creating circles. Bronze glass rhinestones with metal settings are at the center of each circle. On either side of the trim, gold metal balls and rhinestones are attached along the edges. The mid length dress has short cap sleeves, and a downward pointing bust dart is sewn on each side. The back of the dress has a center back seam with a twenty-three-inch zipper with plastic teeth and a metal pull. A metal hook and thread eye are sewn to the top of the zipper. The dress is lined with gold colored synthetic fabric that is machine sewn to the dress along the neckline and sleeves. The lining and exterior fabric are not sewn together at the hem. The hem of the brocade is folded inwards and finished with a gold syntenic ribbon which is hand and machine sewn. Buckram is placed between the brocade and lining at the neckline.
- The jacket (b) has a self-fabric convertible collar, it is single breasted and opens in the center front. The jacket could be worn two ways, first buttoned below the collar with a hidden shell button creating a higher neckline and pointed collar. A decorate self-fabric covered button is placed below the center of the collar. It could also be worn with the collar turned down to create a single notched collar and buttoned with the bottom two buttons at the center front opening. Two bound buttonholes are sewn to the proper right side of the center front opening, two self-fabric covered metal buttons are sewn on the other side. A downward pointing bust dart is sewn on each side. The jacket is self-faced along the center front opening and collar. It is lined with the same material as the dress, gold colored synthetic fabric. Buckram is sewn between the lining and brocade along the center front opening and the collar and along the shoulders. A woven fabric label is sewn to the proper right side of the center front opening along the self-facing. The label reads [Helen Bass / CALIFORNIA].
- Data Source
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Created by
- Helen Bass, American, 1960 - 1985
- Subject of
- Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
- Date
- ca. 1965
- 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
- Medium
- synthetic and metallic thread brocade, synthetic, buckram, metal, shell, glass rhinestones, synthetic and metallic cord, plastic, and synthetic ribbon
- Dimensions
- a: dress
- Length (a: shoulder to hem): 41 in. (104.1 cm)
- Width (a: shoulder to shoulder): 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm)
- Waist (a: flat): 20 1/4 in. (51.4 cm)
- b: jacket
- Length (b: shoulder to hem): 24 in. (61 cm)
- Width (b: shoulder to shoulder): 17 in. (43.2 cm)
- Waist (b: flat): 23 1/2 in. (59.7 cm)
- Type
- dresses
- jackets
