Blue halter gown by Jacqueline de Ribes

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.

Iridescent blue evening gown by Jacqueline de Ribes. The bodice of the gown has a deep plunging V-neck to the natural waist with a halter neck band. It is backless. The edges of the V-neck and the open back are trimmed in blue velvet. The halter neck band is made from the velvet and closes at the back neck with two (2) black hook-and-eyes. Pre-tied bows made from the velvet are sewn at each top shoulder. The body of the dress continues to the floor in a column skirt with a long center back slit. Three (3) layers of the blue iridescent silk are cut with rounded edges and stacked on top of each other, then sewn on either side of the slit at the center back skirt up to the back waist, where they are gathered to create a large ruffle. A pre-tied blue velvet bow is sewn at each back side hip.

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