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Museum object · Clothing - Fashion and Historical

Cream fit n flair dress with raglan sleeves

1950s

Smithsonian NMAAHC collection

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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 cream fit n’ flair dress with raglan sleeves. The dress features a lapel collar made from two panels of cream-colored synthetic satin acetate, joined together at the center back seam. A layer of cotton gauze backs the collar for extra stiffness. The two front bust panels create a V-neckline, but the center seam has been split completely open. At the bust are two diagonal darts, one on each side, measuring about 5” each. The raglan sleeves are each made from two panels of fabric, and the sleeve cuffs are finished with a single 1.75” fold, machine stitched to a .5” synthetic twill tape, which is hand basted into place. The front bodice and skirt are two separate pieces, sewn together at the waist, which also has a length of elastic sewn to it. At the hip, are two welt pockets, one on each side, measuring 5.75”, and two thread belt loops.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2007.3.819

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