A costume for the production Grind worn by Ben Vereen. The costume consists of a tailcoat, waistcoat, pants, and suspenders. The blue tailcoat is made of silk satin (a). It has a single notched peaked lapel with blue, teal, and purple sequins embellished with seed beads and bugle beads along the edge. A single welted breast pocket is on the proper left side. The long sleeves have a slit along the exterior seams by the writs. Three decorative metal self-fabric covered buttons are sewn along the slit keeping it closed. The tailcoat opens in the center front and has three decorative metal self-fabric covered buttons sewn to each side. A dart from the waist seam runs up to chest level on each side. A center back seam and a set of princess seams are on the back of the tailcoat. Two decorative metal self-fabric covered buttons are sewn at the waist seam. The tail is made of four panels total, the two center tail panels continue from the center back panel. This panel splits open down the center of the tail. The tailcoat is lined with teal silk satin which mirrors the construction of the exterior. The sleeves are lined with teal synthetic fabric. The interior is self-faced along the center front opening. The tailcoat is mostly machine sewn with some exceptions along the lining. A woven fabric label is machine sewn to the interior back of the coat offset to the proper left. The label reads [BARBARA MATERA / LTD. / MR. VEREEN / NEW YORK].
The tuxedo style waistcoat (b) is made of purple and blue synthetic brocade with silver metallic thread in an arabesque pattern. The waistcoat has a deep U neck with rounded unnotched lapels. The waistcoat opens in the center front with four metal buttons each containing four decorative holes. A dart is sewn to each side of the center front opening. The back of the waistcoat is made in teal silk satin, it has a center back seam, two darts and a self-fabric waistcoat back strap. The waistcoat is lined in purple silk satin and is hand sewn to the exterior fabric. A purple ribbon is sewn behind the metal buttons on the interior. A woven fabric label is machine sewn to the interior center back. The label reads [BARBARA MATERA / LTD. / MR. VEREEN / NEW YORK].
The tuxedo pants (c) are made of the same blue silk satin as the tailcoat. The pants open in the center front with a metal hook and eye and metal zipper. A self-fabric stripe embellished with blue, teal, and purple sequins with seed beads and bugle beads is hand sewn to each side of the pants. A crease is set into each pant leg at the center front. A five and a quarter inch dart is sewn to each side of the pants starting at the waist on the back of the pants. Six black plastic buttons are sewn to the interior waistband. A two and a quarter inch interior waistband made of black cotton twill and an elastic band are sewn at the top of the pants. The hem of the pants is turned under, pinked at the edges, and sewn with hand herringbone stitches. The pants are unlined, the interior seams are finished with machine overlock stitching. A label is sewn to the proper left side of the pants along the waistband which reads [BARBARA MATERA / LTD. / MR. VEREEN / NEW YORK].
The Y back white suspenders (d) are made of elastic and faux leather. One end of the suspenders is made of two loops of elastic, each loop has two faux leather tabs with one buttonhole on each end. These loops are attached to the elastic with metal hardware. A metal buckle adjuster is attached to both loops. The other end of the suspenders has one loop of elastic with a leather tab matching those on the other side. All three elastic loops are connected with a white leather cross patch. On the back of the crosspatch the text [CENTURY / VEREEN] is handwritten in black marker.
| Date | 1985 |
| Created by | Barbara Matera, American, 1929 - 2001 |
| Worn by | Ben Vereen, American, born 1946 |
| Subject of | Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007 |
| Place made | New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America |
| Place used | New York City, New York, United States |
| Medium | a. silk satin, synthetic, glass, aluminum, batting, and metal |
| Medium | b. synthetic brocade with metallic thread, silk satin, ribbon, and metal |
| Medium | c. silk satin, plastic, metal, elastic, glass, aluminum, and cotton twill |
| Medium | d. elastic, metal, and faux leather |
| Dimensions | a: jacket |
| Dimensions | Length (a: shoulder to hem): 40 1/4 in. (102.2 cm) |
| Dimensions | Width (a: shoulder to shoulder): 17 3/4 in. (45.1 cm) |
| Dimensions | Waist (a: flat): 16 3/4 in. (42.5 cm) |
| Dimensions | b. waistcoat |
| Dimensions | Length (b: shoulder to hem): 22 1/2 in. (57.2 cm) |
| Dimensions | Width (b: shoulder to shoulder): 19 1/2 in. (49.5 cm) |
| Dimensions | c. pants |
| Dimensions | Length (c: waist to hem): 45 in. (114.3 cm) |
| Dimensions | Waist (c: flat): 17 in. (43.2 cm) |
| Dimensions | Inseam (c): 32 in. (81.3 cm) |
| Dimensions | d. suspenders |
| Dimensions | L x W (d): 33 3/4 × 9 1/2 in. (85.7 × 24.1 cm) |
| Credit Line | Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane |
| Object number | 2007.3.677a-d |
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