Black pants with rhinestones worn by Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind, & Fire: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A pair of black men's pants (a) with silver rhinestones and detachable chains (b,c) customized by Bernard G. Jacobs and worn by Philip Bailey, vocalist for Earth, Wind & Fire. The pants have full-length straight cut legs and close at the center front waist with one (1) black plastic round button engraved "FRENCH / CONNECTION" and a metal zipper. There are five (5) self-fabric belt loops spaced evenly around the waist band. A silver metal loop is attached around both front belt loops and side back belt loops for attaching the lobster clasps at the ends of each detachable chains (b,c). The chains have two (2) pieces of chain link of the same length extending from the clasps. There are two (2) diagonal inset waist pockets, one at each front side. There are two (2) patch pockets with flap closures, one at each back side waist. The inner side of the flap of each pocket is sewn down, while the outer side of each pocket is closed with one (1) metal snap. The legs of the pants are made from several different pieces of fabric seamed together to form a decorative element, including rounded pieces at the inner thighs, front and back knees, and back crotch areas, and diagonal lines running across the front thighs. Round silver rhinestones in two different sizes are attached to the pants over the seams of the diagonal lines on the front thighs. Black suede with a scalloped upper edge is sewn around the bottom of each leg. Silver foil thread is machine sewn on top of the suede in a series of lines that start in a burst of rays at the center front leg and extend onto the back of the leg ending in varying lengths. Round silver rhinestones of varying sizes are attached over the silver thread, with a large concentration of them at the central front burst. A blue fabric tag is attached at the interior center back waist with white printed text containing fiber content. White fabric tag is attached at the interior proper left side seam behind the pocket lining with black printed text in English on the front and Chinese on the back detailing fiber content, care, and style information.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 2004-2013
• Created by: Bernard G. Jacobs, American
• Manufactured by: French Connection, founded 1972
• Worn by: Philip Bailey, American, born 1951
• Subject of: Earth, Wind & Fire, American, founded 1969
• Type: trousers
• Medium: pants: cotton and polyester blend cloth, foil thread, rhinestones, plastic button, and metal zipper;
• Medium: chains: metal
• Dimensions: H x W ((abc) flat): 42 3/4 × 18 1/2 in. (108.6 × 47 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W x D ((b, c) flat outstretched): 1 1/4 × 33 1/8 × 1/2 in. (3.2 × 84.1 × 1.3 cm)
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Clothing and dress
• Topic: Costume
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Topic: Soul (Music)
• Object number: 2015.147.4.2abc
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Costume Designer Bernard G. Jacobs
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.