Cummerbund from the travel wardrobe trunk used by Cab Calloway

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 Mel Howard cummerbund from the travel wardrobe trunk used by Cab Calloway. The patterned, medium gray cummerbund is primarily constructed of gray silk with a cotton backing. The gray silk front panel has four horizontal folds that extend across the waist when worn. The gray fabric has a woven texture with a pattern that includes dark gray dotted lines, accented with small, light pink, eight petal flowers with a dark pink centers. Extending from each end of the cummerbund are two gray, elastic waist straps that attach at the back with a flat hook and eye. Both of the waistband straps have metal strap adjusters. The back of the front panel of the cummerbund is lined with white cotton. Sewn to one side of the lining is a black fabric tag with white embroidered text that reads [Mel Howard / ONE SIZE / FITS ALL / 27-48].

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