This is a fabulous Patrick Kelly grayed black denim vintage short and jacket suit  purchased at Printemp’s in Denver in the mid 1980’s.

The jacket is cinched at the waist with a peplum, and closes with a single rhinestone button. The blazer also has a sash that ties in the back, and the shoulders have medium pads. The sleeve cuffs have decorative rhinestone buttons and the high-waist cuffed shorts have black grosgrain ribbon trim on the sides, side slit pockets and close with a front zipper and buttons. 

We estimate this gorgeous suit to fit a size 4/6 but encourage you to use the measurements as a guide for the best fit!

Patrick Kelly was an African-American born in Vicksburg, Mississippi who became the first American to be admitted to the Chambre syndicale du pret a porter des couturiers et des createurs de mode.  He was known for his strong individual fashion voice, his humor and his contagious enthusiasm! He created high fashion looks that were inspired by the fashions worn in church by the women he admired so much in Mississippi. In a People magazine interview, he once remarked;

"These ladies are just as fierce as the ladies at Yves Saint Laurent's haute couture shows."

There have been a couple of retrospectives of his work, but we still think he is yet to be fully appreciated for his influence on fashion. We love his pieces and his unique perspective, including his brave attempt to reclaim even racist iconography for the African-American community.

"I design for fat women, skinny women, all kinds of women. My message is, you’re beautiful just the way you are." Patrick Kelly.

Shorts

WAIST:  26"

INSEAM:  7.5"

RISE:  14"

Jacket

BUST:  36"

WAIST:  28"

LENGTH from top of shoulders in the back:  17"

LENGTH from top of shoulders in the front:  29"

SHOULDERS from seam to seam across the back:  17"