This vintage black, pink silk sequin beaded dress Carmen costume from the Tennessee Ernie Ford Show dates from 1961. It is made of a black silk moire watered taffeta fabric, with an iridescent hot pink silk fabric peplum apron overskirt, black braided rope, pompoms, sequin, jet beaded trim edging and accents. This sensational Spanish dancer Carmen costume dress has a fitted bodice top, with stays, boning sewn inside the lining, long fitted sleeves, a low rounded scoop neckline, layered full skirt with a orange and a black crinoline petticoat sewn inside for added fullness and a back zipper  closure. The dress measures 47 inches long, with a 34 inch bust, 24 inch waist and 22 inch long sleeves. There is a faint stamped label inside (see close-up) for this beautifully constructed custom made TV costume. This costume is from the estate of Karen Wessler who performed on the Tennessee Ernie Ford Show as one of "The Top Twenty", Ernie's back-up group and wore this costume while performing the opera Carmen (see publicity photo stills below). The dress is in excellent condition, with only faint makeup stains along the inside neckline lining. This is truly a rare and wonderful piece of preowned celebrity variety TV show wearable art!
Item number xa9085

$200