The Costume with Velvet Duck Bolero Worn by Shirley Temple in the 1935 Film "Curly Top"

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A short black velvet bolero top is embroidered with yellow ducklings on the bodice and sleeves, with a border of green leaves and flowers, and has a black silk lining. The bolero is worn over a sleeveless dress with pleated skirt. The bolero has studio tag 5943 and the dress has studio tag 4759. The costume was worn by Shirley Temple in the 1935 film "Curly Top" upon leaving the orphanage and arriving at her new home. In various studio promotional photographs of the film, the under-dress appears to have a collar and different pleats, suggesting that this dress was likely an alternate. In 1945 Shirley Temple sponsored a clothing drive for the United Nations, and in a publicity photograph shown here, she is shown evaluating which of her film costumes she might donate to the drive. The dress she holds up, in fact, is the dress shown here, indicating that she could not part with this memory of one of her favorite roles.