Pajama set for The Wiz costume worn by André De Shields: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Pajama set from The Wiz costume ensemble worn by André De Shields in the original 1975 Broadway production. A matching set of white silk pajamas with suede red hearts machine sewn onto both the top and bottoms. The pajama top (1a) has six plastic clear buttons. The hearts are only on the chest and back of the top, not the arms. Under the collar is the manufacturer's label, white with gold lettering that reads, [Grace Costumes / New York]. The pajama bottoms, (1b) are wide legged with hand raised hem. They have an elastic waistband that has become extremely worn and no longer functions. Some of the hearts on the bottoms have become worn and have areas of loss. There is staining throughout the top and bottoms.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1975
• Created by: Grace Costumes Inc., American, founded 1961
• Worn by: André De Shields, American, born 1946
• Designed by: Geoffrey Holder, Trinidadian American, 1930 - 2014
• Type: pajamas
• Medium: polyester and suede with thread, twill, elastic plastic and Velcro™
• Dimensions: H x W (.1a top flat arms outstretched): 31 1/8 × 61 1/8 in. (79.1 × 155.3 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (. 1b bottom flat): 43 × 24 1/2 in. (109.2 × 62.2 cm)
• Dimensions: Inseam: 29 in. (73.7 cm)
• Dimensions: Waist: 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm)
• Place made: 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: Costume design
• Topic: Design
• Topic: Entertainers
• Object number: 2018.1.3.1ab
• 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: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.