Peter Davy, Saint Vincentian, 1944 - 1990 Search this
Subject of:
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007 Search this
Medium:
synthetic fiber, sequins, beads, and rhinestones, with metal and plastic zipper, and Velcro (TM)
Dimensions:
H x W x D (flat): 56 1/2 × 24 × 2 in. (143.5 × 61 × 5.1 cm)
Type:
dresses
Place made:
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Date:
1980s
Description:
A long-sleeved, floor-length dress with all-over white iridescent sequins and additional beaded and rhinestone embellishments designed by Peter Davy. The dress has a plunging V-neck front and back bodice and full-length fitted sleeves. It has a wide, fitted waistband at the natural waist, with a floor-length sheath skirt having a thigh-high slit at the proper left front side. The dress is made from a white semi-sheer synthetic fabric that is almost entirely hidden by thick rows of white iridescent sequins. A large stylized leaf paillette in clear, white iridescent, silver, and pearl sequins, beads, and rhinestones is attached at each top shoulder. Loops of white iridescent beaded strands are attached along the front and back sides of the proper left paillette, but only the front side of the proper right paillette. There are three (3) strands of the beaded fringe at the cuff of each sleeve. The waistband has a small scalloped edge trimmed in white seed beads, with the background of the band covered in large white sequins and a decorative stylized flower and vine at the center front made from smaller white sequins, large clear rhinestones, pearl and silver seed beads, round pearl beads, and oval clear beads. The top of the waistband tapers upward toward the center front, where the open plunging V-neck meets the waist. A large white iridescent beaded flower paillette is attached at the top of the slit in the skirt, with clusters of clear and white sequins and beads cascading below it. Additional stylized floral and leaf beaded, sequin, and rhinestone paillettes are attached along each side of the slit. Long strands of beaded white iridescent fringe extend below the paillettes along the slit. The back bodice has a strand of this fringe that reaches from the proper left back shoulder across and attaches with a hook-and-eye to the interior proper right back shoulder. Two (2) longer strands of beads are looped across the back. A doubled panel of the white iridescent sequin fabric is attached at each back shoulder, forming a cowl that hangs loose from the body of the back bodice of the dress. The dress closes at the center back with a white metal and plastic zipper. The waistband closes over the zipper at the center back with Velcro.
The dress is fully lined in white synthetic knit fabric. Thick shoulder pads are attached between the facing and lining fabrics at each shoulder. The interior hem and slit of the skirt are trimmed in white floral machine-made synthetic lace. There are no labels in the dress.
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
