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Catalog Data

Designed by:
Bob Mackie, American, born 1940  Search this
Ray Aghayan, Iranian American, born 1934  Search this
Norma Koch, American, 1898 - 1979  Search this
Worn by:
Diana Ross, American, born 1944  Search this
Subject of:
Billie Holiday, American, 1915 - 1959  Search this
Medium:
wool twill with metal hooks
Dimensions:
H x W (Flat): 48 1/2 × 19 in. (123.2 × 48.3 cm)
Type:
dresses
Place used:
United States, North and Central America
Date:
1972
Description:
Teal twill wool long-sleeved mid-calf length dress worn by Diana Ross as Billie Holiday in the Paramount Pictures produced 1972 film "Lady Sings the Blues." The dress has a mock turtleneck and no waist seam, but center front and back seams. There are diagonal light green stripes of wool that angle in a point-up double chevron on the bodice and wrap around to the back. The dress closes at the center back from the neck to below the waist with eleven (11) self-covered teal buttons and self loops, and thirteen (13) hooks that attach to the loops. Additionally, there is one (1) black snap at the top of the neck and two (2) snaps at the bottom of the back closure. Thread-wrapped metal is sewn at the interior of the upper part of the shoulder seams to make the mock turtleneck stand out from the neck. The dress is not lined and is hand hemmed.
Topic:
African American  Search this
Actors  Search this
Clothing and dress  Search this
Costume  Search this
Costume design  Search this
Design  Search this
Fashion  Search this
Film  Search this
Jazz (Music)  Search this
Motown (Music)  Search this
Musical films  Search this
Rhythm and blues (Music)  Search this
Singers (Musicians)  Search this
Credit Line:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number:
2012.64.4.1
Restrictions & Rights:
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
See more items in:
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification:
Clothing-Costume
Clothing-Fashion
Exhibition:
Musical Crossroads
On View:
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053
Data Source:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd50e431893-8cab-4be4-9167-c519a9838c13
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmaahc_2012.64.4.1