2-835-329 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Ann Cole Lowe (1898-1981) was the first African American to become a noted fashion designer. Teal blue floral brocade dress (.1) and cropped jacket (.2) worn by Florance Colgate Rumbough Trevor. The dress (.1) is made from a teal blue silk satin with an all-over brocaded medium-scale design of scattered flowers with leaves and stems in shades of pink, blue, copper, and green. The dress is strapless with a plunging V at the back of the fitted bodice. A self-fabric band is sewn across the front at the natural waist which continues down each proper side of the skirt to the hem. The skirt is nearly flat in the front but is heavily gathered into small pleats at the back. It has a slight train at the center back. Self-fabric pre-tied bows are sewn down the sides of the skirt on top of the self-fabric band, three on each side.