Costume worn by Nona Hendryx of Labelle

Object Details

Designed by

Larry LeGaspi, American, 1950 - 2001

Worn by

Nona Hendryx, American, born 1944

Subject of

Labelle, American, founded 1962

Description

This costume was worn by Nona Hendryx of Labelle during a live performance on the television show "The Midnight Special" in 1975. The costume consists of a silver skullcap (.1), a silver unitard (.2), a silver overbodice (.3), and silver boot covers (.4ab).

Skullcap, .1: The silver metallic skullcap is similar in style to an aviator's cap. It is made from two (2) layers of silver synthetic fiber that serve as the facing and the lining fabrics. The fabric is quilted in a series of parallel lines along the top of the cap from the forehead to the nape of the neck. The area covering the ears is not quilted and extends into two thinner strips, one on each side of the head, with rounded tops. The seams of the quilted sections are left exposed on the interior of the cap, but are finished with serge stitching.

Unitard, .2: The silver metallic unitard has full-length sleeves and ankle-length legs, with a collarless crew neck. It is made from a silver stretch synthetic fiber. The unitard closes at the center back with a metal zipper that reaches from the lower back to the neck. There are additional zippers at each ankle and wrist. It is fully lined with an off-white stretch synthetic fabric.

Overbodice, .3: Silver metallic overbodice garment worn over the bodysuit (.2). It is made from a silver metallic synthetic fiber used on the facing and the lining sides, quilted all over in parallel lines. The overbodice wraps around the wearer's chest and shoulders and secures with hook-and-eye fasteners in the front. When worn, the garment has a leaf-shaped front panel covering the stomach, wide shoulder wings that extend beyond the wearer's body, a v-shaped back panel that covers the spine, and a horizontal crescent-shaped panel that covers the wearer's buttocks. The bottom center of the crescent-shaped back panel is sewn to a wide band of elastic, attaching the back panel to the bottom tip of the leaf-shaped front stomach panel. The garment closes with metal hook-and-eye fasteners, one hook (1) at each side of the center front neck fastens to one (1) eye at the tip of the stomach panel, one (1) hook at each top outside edge of the back crescent-shaped panel wraps around to the front side and fastens to one (1) eye at each outside edge of the stomach panel. There is a thick metal rod, bent to form around the shoulder wing and keep it stiff, sewn inside the outermost quilted layer on the proper right side only; the proper left wing has no apparent interior support.

Leg covers, .4ab: Two lower leg covers, both alike, made from silver metallic synthetic fabric. The fabric is quilted in three (3) parallel lines that run from top to bottom down the center front, surrounded by a series of quilted parallel lines oriented at an angle. The covers are angled with a longer tip at the center front on the top and bottom edges. Both are lined with the silver facing fabric, and close at the center back of the leg with Velcro sewn at the left and right outer edges of the reverse. A length of elastic tape woven with silver metallic and white thread is sewn on the reverse exterior bottom edge of each cover, with a large metal hook at the loose end that attaches to a metal eye sewn on the reverse interior bottom edge.

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Nona Hendryx of Labelle

1975

Object number

2014.246.3.1-.4ab

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

Type

main garments for the upper body

body stockings

skullcaps

overshoes

Medium

Skullcap: synthetic fiber and batting

Bodysuit: synthetic fiber, metal zipper

Vest: synthetic fiber, batting, metal, and elastic

Boot Covers: synthetic fiber, batting, Velcro™, and elastic

Dimensions

H x W x D (Skullcap (flat)): 20 1/4 × 11 × 1 1/4 in. (51.4 × 27.9 × 3.2 cm)

H x W x D (Skullcap (on form)): 20 1/2 × 9 × 9 1/2 in. (52.1 × 22.9 × 24.1 cm)

H x W (Bodysuit (flat)): 55 1/2 × 29 in. (141 × 73.7 cm)

H x W x D (Bodysuit (on form)): 54 1/2 × 18 × 11 in. (138.4 × 45.7 × 27.9 cm)

H x W (Bodysuit (inseam)): 29 in. (73.7 cm)

H x W x D (Vest (flat)): 55 × 28 1/2 × 1/2 in. (139.7 × 72.4 × 1.3 cm)

H x W x D (Vest (on form)): 27 × 26 × 12 1/2 in. (68.6 × 66 × 31.8 cm)

H x W x D (Boot cover (.a, left, flat)): 23 × 8 × 1 in. (58.4 × 20.3 × 2.5 cm)

H x W x D (Boot cover (.b, right, flat)): 23 1/2 × 8 1/4 × 1 in. (59.7 × 21 × 2.5 cm)

H x W x D (Boot cover (.a, left, on form)): 23 1/2 × 4 1/2 × 7 1/2 in. (59.7 × 11.4 × 19.1 cm)

H x W x D (Boot cover (.b, right, on form)): 22 × 4 1/2 × 7 3/4 in. (55.9 × 11.4 × 19.7 cm)

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing - Costume

Movement

Afrofuturism

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Costume

Costume design

Design

Disco (Music)

Funk (Music)

Rhythm and blues (Music)

Rock and roll (Music)

Singers (Musicians)

Soul (Music)

Record ID

nmaahc_2014.246.3.1-.4ab

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd525c8c82c-5df6-48f2-8e88-e0234baade5d