Costume worn by Terry Ellis in "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" video

Identifier

http://dp.la/api/items/ce1ef13c9ac7e161bcc98b2f2503c3b9

Title

Costume worn by Terry Ellis in "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" video

Creator

Danny Flynn
Frederick's of Hollywood, founded 1947
Via Spiga, Italian, founded 1985
Terry Lynn Ellis, American, born 1963
En Vogue, American, founded 1989

Date

1992

Description

A costume worn by Terry Ellis of En Vogue for the music video "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" (1992) comprised of a red dress (.1), a bra (.2), a pair of elbow-length black gloves (.3), and a pair of black stiletto heels (.4ab).
Dress (.1): A red sleeveless dress with an an ankle-length skirt. The dress is made from a red stretch knit sewn with the dull side of the fabric facing. The front of the bodice scoops below the bust, with the upper band becoming the back straps. There is a sixteen (16) inch slit along the proper right side of the skirt, with the edges of the slit rounded at the hem. The letter "T" is handwritten in black ink on the inside front bodice. The dress is not lined.
Bra (.2): A red push-up bra with a plunging neckline between the cups, red sheer wings, and adjustable back straps. The padded cups are faced with red satin. Each cup has an insert for additional padding with removable inserts inside. There is a white manufacturer's label with printed text sewn to the interior bottom seam of the proper left wing that reads, "frederick's / of Hollywood / FIBER & CARE ON BACK / [horizontal] 5796 32B". The letter "T" is handwritten in black ink at the bottom interior edge of each cup and on the interior proper right wing.
Gloves (.3ab): A pair of black elbow-length stretch gloves, both alike. The gloves are seamed along the exterior side and around the fingers, with a separate thumb attached to the gusset. The letter "T" is handwritten in white ink or paint on the interior of each glove near the opening.
Shoes (.4ab): A pair of black suede t-strap pumps. Each shoe has a pointed toe box and a freestanding heel counter, leaving each side of the foot uncovered. Two thin straps are sewn together to make the t-shape. The lower of the straps is the same suede material as the toe box and heel. The lower strap is stitched to the edges of the toe box and joins to meet in the middle. The lower strap is stitched to the upper strap at the anterior ankle. The upper strap is suede elastic, and loops around the wearer's ankle from one edge of the heel to the other. The shoes have a 3 inch stilletto heel that is covered with suede and tipped with black rubber. There is a manufacturer's tag on the insole on both shoes, white with black stitching: "VIA SPIGA / MADE IN / ITALY". On the tags are hand-written the letter "T" indicating that the shoes were worn by Terry Ellis. On the underside of both shoes at the shank are the leather seal and size "VERO / CUOIO / MADE IN ITALY / 4 5 / 8B".

Subject

Design
Women
Music
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Singers (Musicians)
Flynn, Danny
Via Spiga
Ellis, Terry Lynn
Frederick's of Hollywood
En Vogue
African Americans
African American
Fashion design
Popular music

Source

Smithsonian Institution

Relation

https://ids.si.edu/ids/deliveryService?id=NMAAHC-2014_189_3_1-3_001

References

http://collections.si.edu/search/results.htm?q=record_ID=nmaahc_2014.189.3.1-.4ab&repo=DPLA

Subject

Design
Women
Music
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Singers (Musicians)
Flynn, Danny
Via Spiga
Ellis, Terry Lynn
Frederick's of Hollywood
En Vogue
African Americans
African American
Fashion design
Popular music

Citation

Danny Flynn et al., “Costume worn by Terry Ellis in "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" video,” Center for Knit and Crochet Digital Repository, accessed July 29, 2026, https://digital.centerforknitandcrochet.org/items/show/28342.

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