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Costume dress for Lady in Purple from for colored girls... on Broadway

Creator Name

Judy Dearing, American, 1940 - 1995;
Risë Collins;
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007;
Ntozake Shange, American, 1948 - 2018

Cultural Context

African Americans

Date

1970s

About the Work

National Museum of African American History and Culture Object Description
Sleeveless dress costume for the character Lady in Purple from the original Broadway production of Ntozake Shange's choreopoem "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf." The dress is made from purple satin synthetic fabric with the crepe finished wrong side facing. The bodice has a sweetheart neckline, scooped back, and front shaping with princess darts, ending at the natural waistline. The neckline and armholes are edged with the purple satin, with the shiny satin side facing. There is a length of self-fabric piping around the waist, again with the shiny satin side facing. The full circle skirt falls at the knee and is hemmed with a chain stitch in purple thread that is covered ...

Work details

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Title

Costume dress for Lady in Purple from for colored girls... on Broadway

Creator

Judy Dearing, American, 1940 - 1995, Designed by;
Risë Collins, Worn by;
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007, Subject of;
Ntozake Shange, American, 1948 - 2018, Subject of

Worktype

dresses; Dresses (garments)

Cultural Context

African Americans

Material

synthetic satin and crepe with metal closures

Dimensions

H x W x D (On form): 40 3/4 × 17 × 14 1/2 in. (103.5 × 43.2 × 36.8 cm)

Technique

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Language

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Date

1970s;
Date: 1976-1978

Provenance

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

Style Period

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Rights

Curationist Logo
CC0
CC0

Inscription

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Location

New York City; Manhattan County; New York; United States; North and Central America

Subjects

African American; Actors; Broadway Theatre; Clothing and dress; Costume; Costume design; Design; Poetry; Women; Actors and actresses

Topic

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Related Content

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All Works in Curationist’s archives can be reproduced and used freely. How to attribute this Work:

Judy Dearing, American, 1940 - 1995, Costume dress for Lady in Purple from for colored girls... on Broadway, 1970s, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution. CC0.

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