Suit: jacket, blouse, and skirt designed by Willi Smith

Object Details

Subject of

Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

Designed by

Willi Donnell Smith, American, 1948 - 1987

Description

Colorful block striped jacket (a) and matching skirt (c) with short-sleeve, collared, button-down mauve-colored blouse (b) designed by Willi Smith for WilliWear Limited.

a. The long sleeve jacket has a v-neck and a notched lapel collar. There are two black plastic buttons near the waist, one on either side. There are two large patch pockets, one on either hip. The jacket is made of a colorful brushstroke ikat print fabric in block stripes of red and green, blue and grey, and purple and black. There is a visible hem around the bottoms of the sleeves.

There are two tags sewn into the back of the jacket collar on the inside. The top tag is black on the proper right half and white on the proper left half. The black side reads [WilliWear] in white. The white side reads [WilliSmith] in black. The smaller tag below reads [M / MADE IN INDIA / 100% COTTON / HAND WASH / SEPARATELY] in black.

b. The heather mauve blouse is a thin material and has a traditional two-piece high stand collar. There is a breast pocket on either side and there are five small black buttons going down the center on the proper right side. There is a visible hem going around the bottoms of the sleeves and a thin hem going around the bottom of the shirt.

There are two tags sewn into the back of the shirt collar on the inside. The top tag is black on the proper right half and white on the proper left half. The black side reads [WilliWear] in white. The white side reads [WilliSmith] in black. The smaller tag below reads [M / MADE IN INDIA / 100% COTTON / HAND WASH / SEPARATELY / IN COLD WATER] in black.

c. The pleated circle skirt is made of the same brushstroke ikat striped fabric as the jacket. There is a small black button on the back waistband of the skirt, as well as a black zipper.

There are two tags sewn into the back of the skirt waistband on the inside. The top tag is black on the proper right half and white on the proper left half. The black side reads [WilliWear] in white. The white side reads [WilliSmith] in black. The smaller tag below reads [8 / MADE IN INDIA / 100% COTTON / HAND WASH / SEPARATELY / IN COLD WATER] in black.

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

1969-1987

Object number

2007.3.154abc

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Type

suits

blouses

jackets

skirts

Medium

cotton and plastic thread

Dimensions

H x W (Suit Jacket): 31 3/4 × 19 in. (80.6 × 48.3 cm)

H x W (Blouse): 30 3/4 × 18 in. (78.1 × 45.7 cm)

H x W (Skirt: Width at Waist): 33 1/2 × 12 in. (85.1 × 30.5 cm)

Place made

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Fashion

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Design

Fashion design

Record ID

nmaahc_2007.3.154abc

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5d5e96d35-828a-40c2-81cc-e7fe9b1e9d9d