Costume worn by a member of the band Mis-Teeq, designed by Boyd, ca.2003

S.278:1-2019 (top)

Cream top with plaited shoulder straps and separate collar. The top fits loosely to the figure and is softly gathered at the top edge and hem. It is made from lightweight, fine, cream cheesecloth, and the top and hem are bordered with wide bands of ‘smocked’ white elastic. It is not lined.

Thick lengths of plaited cheesecloth have been used to decorate the front and rear of the top and to create the shoulder straps. These plaited bands are positioned across the proper right and proper left side of the top and both the front and the rear. They float across the surface of the ground fabric (rather than being stitched down) and are secured to curved tabs of fabric on the body of the top with semi-circular metal discs. A further length of plaited cheesecloth (some 54cms in length) extends from the centre from hem of top. It finishes in a wider flat curved band of fabric which is secured in a loop with strips of Velcro (possibly to create a free standing collar at the neckline).


S.278:2-2019 (trousers)

A pair of loose-fitting cream cotton ‘cheesecloth’ trousers. The trousers fit loosely over the thigh, but taper towards the ankle, where they are gathered into white elasticised and “smocked” bands. They are not lined.

The waistband is also formed from a wide band of white elasticised fabric. Two thick plaits (formed from the same cheesecloth fabric as the trousers) are suspended from the proper left and proper right front of the waistband. These hang down in a straight line to about knee level, before curving gently round in a loop, which is secured to a metal hanging loop to a point on the lower part of the thigh (just below the bottom edge of the pockets.)

The trousers have deep, visible, front pockets (approximately 37x17cm in size) at the proper left and proper right leg. There are also two further small pockets (approximately 13.5x12.5cms) at the upper rear section of the trousers. The proper right pocket is marked with the initials ‘T.B.’ These letters appear to have been created with machine embroidery in cream thread.

Given by Mis-teeq

One of two costumes associated with members of the band Mis-Teeq. These costumes include a white cotton cheesecloth top and matching trousers, designed by Boyd. They were worn by Alesha Dixon and Su-Elise Nash for the photoshoot featured on the cover of the band’s 2003 single Scandalous. In this cover shoot two of the performers wear these outfits, one with a single shoulder strap, and no collar [Alesha Dixon], the other [Su-Elise Nash] with two shoulder straps and the collar band.

The ensemble was originally acquired and displayed as part of the Victoria & Albert Museum's Black Style Exhibition in 2004.

Mis-Teeq were a British girl group, consisting of lead singer Sabrina Washington, rapper, singer and songwriter Alesha Dixon and singer Su-Elise Nash. They had two top-ten albums and seven consecutive top-ten singles, with chart-topping success on the UK Singles Chart as well as across Europe. The group had been a quartet with Zena McNally who left in 2001.

S.278:1, 2-2019