Waistcoat for Ain't Misbehavin' costume worn by André De Shields: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Suit waistcoat from Ain't Misbehavin' costume ensemble for Act II worn by André De Shields during the 1982 NBC TV special. The suit is comprised of a jacket (2018.1.2.1.1), pants, (.2), and a waistcoat (.3). The waistcoat is mainly brown fabric with pink embroidery stitched in a bow and floral pattern. The pink is the same material used in the stripes on the silk shirt, [2018.1.2.2]. The lapel, buttons, and false pocket openings are emerald green. The waistcoat is double breasted with six green cloth covered buttons. On the proper left interior of waistcoat is a manufacture’s label that reads, [BROOKS-VAN HORN / NEW YORK / COSTUMES / NAMES [DE SHEILDS] / SIZE [D8]]. The brackets denote handwritten inscriptions in green marker.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1982
• Created by: Brooks-Van Horn Costume Company, Inc., American, 1962 - 1981
• Worn by: André De Shields, American, born 1946
• Type: suits
• Type: waistcoats
• Medium: polyester and satin with metal, plastic and Velcro™
• Dimensions: H x W (waistcoat flat): 22 1/4 × 15 3/4 in. (56.5 × 40 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: Entertainers
• Topic: Musical Theatre
• Topic: Television
• Object number: 2018.1.2.1.3
• 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.