Black dress with red ribbon applique by Peter Davy

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 black long-sleeved, floor-length dress with red ribbon embellishment designed by Peter Davy. The dress is made from an under layer of black fabric, probably polyester or polyester and cotton blend, overlaid in sheer textured black chiffon. The bodice is fitted to the waistline, which falls between the natural waist and hip. It has a V-neck front and high back neckline. Red satin ribbon 3/8-inch wide is sewn all over the front and back bodice in a lattice design. A pleated ruffle of the black textured chiffon trimmed in red satin ribbon begins at the center back bodice and extends over the shoulders and down the front bodice around the neckline. Full-length sleeves made from the textured chiffon, but without the black fabric under layer, form the sleeves. The upper part of the sleeves are blousy, with a slight pouf at the shoulder seam, and then fit tight around the arm from forearm to wrist.

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