Peter Davy, Saint Vincentian, 1944 - 1990 Search this
Subject of:
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007 Search this
Medium:
synthetic tulle, synthetic knit fiber, synthetic fiber, and sequins, with metal and plastic fasteners
Dimensions:
H x W x D (flat): 53 3/4 × 26 1/2 × 8 1/2 in. (136.5 × 67.3 × 21.6 cm)
Type:
dresses
Place made:
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Date:
1980s
Description:
A black, white, and silver dress with a dropped waist designed by Peter Davy. The bodice of the dress has a sweetheart front and a low square-cut back neckline, with short pouf sleeves and a dropped waist with a full pleated skirt below the waist. The waistline is cut on a diagonal with the proper right side longer than the proper left side. The bodice of the dress is made from black synthetic knit fabric overlaid in black net. Undulating rows of black, white, and silver sequins are sewn to the black net over the entire bodice. The pouf sleeves are made from white semi-sheer synthetic fabric overlaid in white synthetic tulle, with the under layer serving as binding around the bottom of the poufs. The full, gathered skirt is also made from the white synthetic tulle, with two top layers of the tulle, a third layer of the white semi-sheer synthetic fabric used as the pouf sleeve under layer and a white tulle petticoat as the innermost layer. Two (2) large black bows made from black synthetic tulle are sewn at the waistline, one at the proper right front side and one at the proper left back side. The dress closes at the center back with a black metal and plastic zipper and one (1) flat metal hook-and-eye at the top of the zipper.
The dress is not lined beyond the under layers of black synthetic knit and the semi-sheer white synthetic fabric, except at the upper bodice. The upper bodice is lined in the black synthetic knit on the interior front and back, with a piece of boning sewn inside the lining in the center of each side of the bust. A piece of the white tulle is gathered and sewn at the interior shoulder of each pouf sleeve. White hanger loops are sewn at each interior shoulder seam. A white fabric label with black printed text is sewn at the interior proper right back bodice that reads, "An Original / by / Peter Davy" with three (3) black diamonds down the proper left side of the label.
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
