Tuxedo jacket worn by Ray Charles

Single-breasted tuxedo jacket made of cornflower blue and gold metallic brocade synthetic fiber in a floral vine design worn by Ray Charles while performing at Wrestlemania 2 in New York on August 7, 1986. The jacket is detailed with black moire synthetic fiber on the knotched lapel and on flaps on each front side waist that mimic pockets (there are no exterior pockets). The jacket has full-length straight sleeves with faux slit cuffs and three decorative black plastic buttons at each cuff. The jacket closes at the center front with one black plastic button front closure. It has a double-vented back and rounded corners at each front side opening.

The black moire fabric continues along the center front opening to the hem. The rest of the jacket is lined in ivory twill synthetic, including full sleeve lining. The underside of the collar is lined in dark blue felt. Each underarm has a triangular sweat pad made of the ivory lining material. There are three interior pockets, one at each interior breast, and one smaller inset pocket at proper left front interior waist. Shoulder pads are attached between the facing and lining fabrics. There is a black nylon tape hanger loop at the center back neck.

Credit: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture