Prince's stage-worn custom-made white ruffled shirt from his iconic performance at the 12th Annual American Music Awards, which were held at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, on January 28, 1985. The shirt is lavishly crafted from soft silk and features a gathered high-neck collar, three layers of ruffles down the front, gathered 'puffy' long sleeves, ruffled faux French cuffs, faux pearl buttons down the front placket and on the cuffs, and light shoulder pads. In very good to fine condition, with expected wear from use, including dimpling to fabric on the wrists and some staining to the right sleeve.
Prince wore this style of ruffled white shirt while performing during the Purple Rain Tour, an epic 98-show circuit that brought him all around North America between November 4, 1984, and April 7, 1985. Coinciding with the tour was Prince’s show-stopping performance of ‘Purple Rain’ at the 12th Annual AMAs, an event that represented one of the more defining moments in the career of Prince.
Riding high on the success of Purple Rain, which had been released to massive acclaim seven months prior, the iconic artist was nominated in 10 categories at the AMAs and took home awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Album, Favorite Soul/R&B Album, and Favorite Soul/R&B Single (for 'When Doves Cry'), ousting other pop music royalty like Michael Jackson in the process. What made the night most memorable, however, was his very visible dismissal of Quincy Jones and his night-capping rendition of ‘We Are the World,’ which was sung by a chorus of music’s biggest names. Prince, who can be seen enjoying a lollipop center stage, later opted out of singing on the USA for Africa charity single for, well, several reasons, a major one being that he didn’t actually like the song. Not trying to be too much of an agitator, Prince donated the exclusive track, ‘4 the Tears in Your Eyes,’ for the We Are the World album.
Consignor notes that this was acquired directly from a designer who worked with Louis and Vaughn & Marie-France on Prince's outfits for the Purple Rain movie and its subsequent tour. A marvelous example of Prince's most iconic look.
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