Black and purple figure skating costume worn by Debi Thomas
date: label: Date
content: 1986
name: label: Worn by
content: Dr. Debra Janine Thomas, American, born 1967
label: Created by
content: Lauren MacDonald Sheehan, American, born 1956
notes: label: Caption
content: Debi Thomas wore this purple and black costume when she won the U.S. and World Championships in 1986. Thomas would go on to become the first African American to win a medal at the Winter Olympics when she won a bronze medal in Ladies’ Singles Figure Skating in Calgary in 1988.
label: Description
content: A black and purple figure skating costume designed by Lauren Sheehan and worn by Debi Thomas in the 1986 U.S. and World Championships. The costume consists of a black, long-sleeve leotard with attached skirt. The leotard features a deep V at the neck, center back and center of each sleeve with sheer panels in the center and decorative crescent-shaped pieces of fabric in various shades of purple along the edges. They are outlined in clear bugle beads and small rhinestones. The body of the costume and sleeves are also covered in large rhinestones set in silver metal rings.
label: Description
content: The skirt of the costume is made up of sheer black pieces of fabric attached to the leotard, with strands of rhinestones, both medium and small. Some of the pieces of sheer black fabric have small, circle sequins at the end, while other have larger petal shaped beads in silver with a rainbow colored design on the back.
label: Description
content: On the back of the costume, a tan zipper runs from the neck down to the lower back.
place: label: Place used
content: Geneva, Switzerland, Europe
label: Place used
content: Uniondale, Nassau County, New York, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Athletes
label: Topic
content: Clothing and dress
label: Topic
content: Figure skating
label: Topic
content: Sports
label: Topic
content: Women
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Clothing - Fashion and Historical
label: Classification
content: Clothing - Sports Uniforms
label: Classification
content: Clothing - Costume
label: Exhibition
content: Sports: Leveling the Playing Field
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 052
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Debra Janine Thomas
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2016.38.1
objectType: label: Type
content: leotards
label: Type
content: sports uniforms
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Lycra, spandex, polyester, nylon, beads, and sequins
label: Dimensions
content: H x W: 27 3/16 × 14 9/16 in. (69 × 37 cm)