Denim and suede suit jacket and bellbottoms worn by Charley Pride: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This denim jean jacket (a) and bell-bottom jeans (b) with suede patchwork details were worn by Charley Pride. The blue jean jacket (a) is cut straight with full-length sleeves and a fold-over collar with exaggerated pointed lapels. It closes at the center front with four (4) round metal buttons that have the text "KEMINGTON / 20 / GA / EXPRESS" engraved around them. Rectangular patches of tan, brown, and ochre suede with blue denim are sewn on the front and back yoke. There are two (2) patch pockets, one at each front chest, with pointed flaps that close using one (1) button each, though the button on the proper right pocket is missing. The cuff of each sleeve closes with two (2) buttons each. The jacket is not lined. There is a size tag at the interior center back neck.

The bell-bottom blue jeans have side panels on each leg made from rectangular patches of tan, brown, and ochre suede with blue denim, matching the yoke decoration on the jacket (a). The pants close at the center front waist with a metal zipper, one (1) metal snap, and one (1) metal hook-and-eye. There is one (1) inset pocket at the proper right front waist. The pants are not lined.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1976
• Attributed to: Ortiz's Art Clothing and Ace Tailors, American
• Worn by: Charley Pride, American, 1934 - 2020
• Type: jean jackets
• Type: trousers
• Medium: jacket: cotton denim, suede, and metal;
• Medium: pants: cotton denim, suede, and metal
• Dimensions: H x W (jacket): 30 1/2 x 20 in. (77.5 x 50.8 cm)
• Dimensions: Inseam (pants): 34 1/2 in. (87.6 cm)
• Dimensions: Jacket on Form: 30 1/2 x 25 x 14 1/2 in. (77.5 x 63.5 x 36.8 cm)
• Place made: Galveston, Texas, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Clothing and dress
• Topic: Country (Music)
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2012.125.50ab
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Charley Pride
• 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 displayed image also has an explicit CC0 designation. The underlying object's rights statement is: Public domain Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.