Cocktail apron worn by Dinah Washington

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.

This black cocktail apron was worn by Dinah Washington. The apron is made from a half-circle of black velvet trimmed in a wide border of ruffled black netting. The netting is doubled over so that both raw edges are attached to the velvet edge. A length of wide black satin ribbon is sewn along the top with tails extending from either side to be wrapped and tied in the back. A white and gold sequin martini glass is appliquéd at the proper right bottom corner of the velvet. A cluster of red seed beads are sewn inside the cup of the glass as a cherry. Music notes are embroidered in black metallic thread around the glass appliqué. The velvet portion is lined in red rayon fabric.

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