2-833-137 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Grey wool dress designed by Arthur McGee. The A-line dress is knee-length with a mock turtleneck and full-length balloon sleeves. There are two (2) patch pockets, one at each front side hip. The dress closes at the center back with a zipper and one (1) hook into a thread loop. Gussets are sewn at each underarm. It is not lined. Thin elastic is sewn inside the hem of each sleeve to create the balloon effect. A cream fabric label with black woven text is sewn at the proper right back side opening near the top that reads "Arthur McGee". In 1957, Arthur Lee McGee (1933-2019) was the first African American designer hired to run a design studio on Seventh Avenue in the Garment District in New York City.