Beaded gown designed by Zelda Wynn for Eartha Kitt
date: label: Date
content: ca. 1955
name: label: Designed by
content: Zelda Wynn, American, 1905 - 2001
label: Worn by
content: Eartha Kitt, American, 1927 - 2008
label: Subject of
content: Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
notes: label: Description
content: A crème-colored silk gown designed by Zelda Wynn for Eartha Kitt.
label: Description
content: The one shoulder, floor-length silk gown features extensively beaded and multi-colored birds of paradise throughout. It was made with a combination of machine and hand-stitching. The bodice has one strap crossing the proper left shoulder, with sheered bias cut fabric embellishment at the bust and at the waist. At the waist, contrasting silk fabric in cream and emerald green is used in the sheered embellishment, forming a yolk at the hip. The skirt is narrow with high slit. The birds of paradise have been printed on the silk fabric with seed beads and rhinestones added over the print. The bodice is interfaced with plain woven fabric, with two small loops for hanging at either side. There is a concealed white plastic zipper at the left side of the waist. A cream-colored satin Zelda Wynn trademark tag is sewn on the interior of the dress.
place: label: Place made
content: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Actors
label: Topic
content: Clothing and dress
label: Topic
content: Craftsmanship
label: Topic
content: Design
label: Topic
content: Fashion
label: Topic
content: Fashion design
label: Topic
content: Singers (Musicians)
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Collection title
content: Black Fashion Museum Collection
label: Classification
content: Clothing - Fashion and Historical
label: Classification
content: Clothing - Costume
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2007.3.163
objectType: label: Type
content: dresses
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Unknown - Restrictions Possible
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: silk (textile) and plastic
label: Dimensions
content: L x W: 58 11/16 × 15 3/4 in. (149 × 40 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: Waist: 13 3/4 in. (35 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: Chest: 14 15/16 in. (38 cm)