Black dress with blue embroidered puff sleeved and peplum

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 velveteen dress with blue embroidered puff sleeves (a) and peplum (b). The black velveteen full length dress features a boat neckline and a drop waist. There are two pieces for the front bodice, seamed together at the center front, and two side panels. There are two princess seams, one on each side, that end at the waist. The 3/4 length puff sleeves are gathered, machine sewn, and hand basted into the armscye. They are made from a single panel of blue synthetic organza with an all over machine embroidered pattern of abstract florals, leaves, stems, and swirls. The embroidery thread is made from synthetic straw (polypropylene) that has been couched down into the fabric. There are seven thread loops encircling the waist, that correspond to the seven hooks on the peplum. The skirt of the dress is gathered at the waist and machine sewn to the bodice.

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