Explore Black History

1970s

A brown pin-striped suit jacket (.1) and pants (.2) with tan and blue accents worn by Sammy Davis Jr. The jacket is made from a heavy wool with a design of wide brown and tan marled stripes with thin brown and light blue marled stripes. It has a wide notched lapel and closes at the center front with one (1) brown faux tortoise shell button. One (1) welted pocket is sewn at the proper left breast. There is one (1) pocket with a flap closure at the proper left front waist, and two (2) pockets with flap closures stacked on the proper right front waist, with the top pocket having a smaller opening. The sleeves are cut straight with short slits at each cuff that are sewn closed and one (1) decorative brown faux tortoise shell button sewn over decorative stitching mimicking a button hole. The back of the jacket has one very wide center back vent, reaching almost to the side seams. The jacket is fully lined in tan synthetic fabric. There are two (2) interior breast pockets and one (1) additional pocket on the proper left front interior. A black fabric label with white text reading "CERTO" is sewn below the proper right interior breast pocket. A cream fabric label with brown and cream embroidered text is sewn with a decorative stitch in red thread below the proper left breast pocket that reads "STYLED FOR / SAMMY DAVIS JR."
The pants (.2) are bellbottoms with an angled hemline that is shorter in the front. They are made from the same brown striped wool as the jacket. A crease is ironed down the center front of each leg, then stitched in place at the hem. The pants close at the center front waist with a metal zipper, one (1) round black plastic button over an interior self-fabric tab, and two (2) flat metal hook-and-eyes, with the second hook fastening a long self-fabric tab that extends across the waist band to the proper right side. There are two (2) welt pockets, one at each front side, with diagonal tops sloping downward from the center. There are no back pockets or labels. The pants are lined only at the waistband and pockets with black twill, with a hanger loop at the interior center back waistband made from the twill.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Clothing - Costume

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2015.118.5.1-.2

suits
jackets
trousers

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.1: wool, synthetic fiber, and plastic buttons;
.2: wool, cotton, and plastic and metal fasteners

H x W x D (.1 flat): 28 3/4 × 25 3/4 × 1 in. (73 × 65.4 × 2.5 cm)
H x W x D (.2 flat): 39 1/2 × 16 3/4 × 1 in. (100.3 × 42.5 × 2.5 cm)

Object Name • Brown pin-striped suit worn by Sammy Davis Jr.

nmaahc_2015.118.5.1-.2

NMAAHC

BROWN PIN-STRIPED SUIT WORN BY SAMMY DAVIS JR.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1970s

Davis, Sammy • Certo's Custom Tailors

Design • Actors and actresses • Costume • Music • Clothing and dress • Jazz (Music)

Suits (main garments) • jackets • Trousers

Images

No Known Copyright Restrictions