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Black beaded dress designed by Zelda Wynn and worn by Ella Fitzgerald

Creator Name

Zelda Wynn, American, 1905 - 2001;
Ella Fitzgerald, American, 1917 - 1996

Cultural Context

African Americans

Date

1940s

About the Work

National Museum of African American History and Culture Object Description
This black beaded full-length gown was designed by Zelda Wynn and worn by Ella Fitzgerald. The dress is made from black synthetic crepe fabric that is hand beaded with black glass seed and bugle beads, and black sequins in a floral vine design. The bodice is short-sleeved and has a scoop neck in the front and a V-neck in the back. There is a metal zipper in the center back that goes to the hip, and a hook-and-eye at the top of the zipper. The gown has a princess cut waist, but there is no seam at the waist. The gown has a column skirt with a slit on the proper right side that is 24 1/2" high and contains ...

Work details

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Title

Black beaded dress designed by Zelda Wynn and worn by Ella Fitzgerald

Creator

Zelda Wynn, American, 1905 - 2001, Designed by;
Ella Fitzgerald, American, 1917 - 1996, Worn by

Worktype

gowns; Dresses (garments)

Cultural Context

African Americans

Material

synthetic fiber, velvet, glass beads, plastic sequins, and metal fasteners

Dimensions

H x W: 46 x 20 in. (116.8 x 50.8 cm)

Technique

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Language

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Date

1940s;
Date: late 1940s

Provenance

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Estate of Ella Fitzgerald

Style Period

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Rights

Curationist Logo
CC0
CC0

Inscription

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Location

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Subjects

African American; Clothing and dress; Design; Fashion; Fashion design; Jazz (Music); Singers (Musicians)

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:

Zelda Wynn, American, 1905 - 2001, Black beaded dress designed by Zelda Wynn and worn by Ella Fitzgerald, 1940s, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution. CC0.

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