Bowler hat and band for Ain't Misbehavin act II costume worn by André De Shields: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Bowler hat and hat band from Ain't Misbehavin' costume ensemble for Act II worn by André De Shields during the 1982 NBC TV special. The bowler hat (.4a) is made from emerald green felt and a shiny fabric border on the upturned edges of the hat. The hatband surrounds the head of that hat and folds over itself to make a flat bow on the proper right. Under the bow are three brown and red feathers. The hatband fabric is the same fabric as the border. The inside of the hat is lined with a shiny fabric material and has an edging of leather. Inscribed in gold lettering on each side of the interior leather band is the manufacture’s name, [CAPAS DESIGN], and type of hat, [DERBY]. The back edge of the leather has a small bow. The top crown inside the hat has the manufacture's label, an illustration of a top hat, gloves, and walking stick.

The hat band (.4b) is a metal chain of four lines of rhinestones. The metal chain connects with an elastic band. Rhinestones have been glued onto the elastic band in the same pattern as the rest of the hatband. Some of the rhinestones have been lost.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1982
• Created by: Capas Headwear, American, founded 1985
• Created by: Unidentified
• Worn by: André De Shields, American, born 1946
• Type: hatbands
• Type: derbies (hats)
• Medium: (.4a) wool (textile), felt, polyester, feather and leather;
• Medium: (.4b) elastic with rhinestone , metal and adhesive
• Dimensions: H x W x D (4a hat): 11 3/4 × 9 3/4 × 4 1/2 in. (29.8 × 24.8 × 11.4 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (4b hatband): 11 3/4 × 3/4 in. (29.8 × 1.9 cm)
• Place made: Queens, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Actors
• Topic: Broadway Theatre
• Topic: Clothing and dress
• Topic: Costume
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Musical Theatre
• Topic: Television
• Object number: 2018.1.2.4ab
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of André De Shields
• 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.