Mock turtleneck and pants costume worn by Verdine White of Earth, Wind, & Fire

Object Details

Designed by

Louis Wells, born 1957

Worn by

Verdine White, American, born 1951

Subject of

Earth, Wind & Fire, American, founded 1969

Description

A costume consisting of a mock turtleneck (.1) and pants (.2) worn by Verdine White, bassist for Earth, Wind & Fire.

.1: A mock turtleneck made from a multi-colored printed spandex. The shirt has full-length sleeves with turned cuffs that are stitched in place. It closes at the center back with a half-length black plastic zipper that begins at the top of the collar. The fabric is printed in bright tones including pink, blue, yellow, green, and black. The words "ULTRA STEREO", "PICTURE", and "35 / SOUND" are oriented vertically and horizontally over geometric shapes, splattered color, and a photo of a building exterior. The shirt is not lined. A black fabric tag is sewn at the interior proper right back along the zipper seam with white embroidered text reading "LOUIS WELLS" above a phone number that is blacked out with marker.

.2: A pair of wide leg floor-length pants made from a multi-colored printed spandex, hot pink synthetic fabric, and white faux fur. The pants close at the center front waist with a gold metal zipper, one (1) flat metal hook-and-eye, and a fabric tab that extends from the interior right front behind the zipper seam and fastens to one (1) black plastic button on the interior proper left front. The proper left leg of the pants to the knee, the waist band, and seven (7) belt loops are made from the bright pink fabric. Clear bugle beads are hand sewn in a closely spaced winding zigzag design onto the proper left front thigh. On the proper left back thigh are two (2) horizontal white strips of suede, with the bottom strip being longer than the top stripe. A row of clear rhinestones is attached to each strip, five (5) on the top strip and six (6) on the bottom strip. The proper right leg is made from the same multi-colored printed spandex as the turtleneck. Thick white bullion fringe is sewn along the outside seam of each pant leg to just below the knee. Below the knees both legs are made from white faux fur with strands of silver metallic foil interspersed with the fur. The pants are lined with black fabric to just below the knee, the faux fur sections are not lined. A black fabric tag is sewn at the interior proper right back waist with white embroidered text reading "LOUIS WELLS" above a phone number that is blacked out with marker. Just under the waistband at the proper right front is a white tag with printed black text and handwritten blue text reading "NAME / VERDINE / DATE 6-04 / MODEL / LOT / SIZE 29" with the name, date, and size filled in by hand.

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Costume Designer Bernard G. Jacobs

2004

Object number

2015.147.1.1-2

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Type

trousers

turtleneck sweaters

Medium

turtleneck: spandex and plastic zipper;

pants: spandex, synthetic fiber, imitation fur, suede, glass beads, rhinestones, synthetic fiber fringe, plastic button, and metal fasteners

Dimensions

H x W (turtleneck): 28 × 17 in. (71.1 × 43.2 cm)

H x W (pants): 48 1/2 × 14 in. (123.2 × 35.6 cm)

Place used

Moscow, Russia, Asia

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

Exhibition

Musical Crossroads

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Costume

Instrumentalists (Musicians)

Soul (Music)

Record ID

nmaahc_2015.147.1.1-2

Usage of Metadata (Object Detail Text)

Not determined

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5ad24fb19-7144-40ea-84ba-9b204e8c91c0