TOP HAT, WHITE TIE AND TAILS ENSEMBLE WITH COLLAPSIBLE TOP HAT, CANE AND TAP SHOES

1975-79, Designer: Jean Louis​, Gift of Roberta Owens

The popular song Top Hat, White Tie and Tails was written by Irving Berlin for the 1935 film Top Hat and introduced by Fred Astaire (below). Now an American classic, the title refers to formal wear of the period: top hat, white bowtie, tailcoat. Ginger Rogers created her own custom version of the formal ensemble – complete with sparkling rhinestone buttons – for The Ginger Rogers Show where she performed a modified version of the tap routine.

 See the suit on film! Click the link to watch Ginger Rogers perform the hit song and dance as part of The Ginger Rogers Show!