Matching black velvet dress and jacket with gold basket brooch

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A matching black velvet dress (a) and jacket (b) with a gold basket brooch (c). The dress (a) is sleeveless and has one panel of peach synthetic ivory for the front bodice. There are two diagonal bust darts measuring 4.5" and two vertical shaping darts (one on each side) measuring about 6.5". The neckline was originally rounded but has been cut into a V-neck shape. Both the neckline and the armholes are self-faced and top stitched with a .25" seam. The skirt is made from two panels of black synthetic velvet - one panel for the front and one for the back. There are two vertical waist pleats one on each side of center front skirt. The hem is a 3" single fold and is finished with a .5” black synthetic twill ribbon.

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