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The Dolly Archive

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The official Instagram for the @dollyparton Archives 🦋✨
Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum, now open in Nashville, TN! 🌈

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Exclusively at the third floor gift shop at @DollysLifeOfManyColors, a selection of post cards featuring some of Dolly's most iconic and show-stopping looks are available for purchase now! Curated by The Dolly Archive and captured by @jillmercyphotography, you can spread a little bit of Dolly's sparkle to your loved ones or keep them all for yourself! by @thedollyarchive

Remembering the late, great Tony Chase, who passed away on this day in 1994 ❤️

Tony Chase began working with Dolly Parton in 1987, designing all of the wardrobe for her ABC television series. Several of Tony's designs have been featured on television shows like Saturday Night Live, in feature films like Straight Talk, in magazines like Vanity Fair and Vogue, and on the cover of several of Dolly's albums. Tony's designs for Dolly ranged from opulent beaded gowns to chain-stitched Western suits to simple but chic gingham dresses. Most of all, he was a great friend to Dolly.

Tony continued to design for Dolly until his passing from complications of HIV/AIDS in 1994. Dolly continued to wear his designs well into the 2000s, a testament to the timelessness of his talent.

"When I hit the 'big time' in Hollywood in the ’80s, Tony Chase was right there by my side. Inspired by the glamour of the Golden Age of cinema, he dressed me in gorgeous gowns and dresses that stars from the past could have worn. I’d have to say that some of his clothing really are works of art. Hours and hours went into doing the beadwork by hand. I always felt special in those clothes, whether wearing them on my television show, at awards shows, on tour, or to some other special event. Tony really knew how to make me shine."
— Dolly Parton on Tony Chase, from Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones by @thedollyarchive

Don't miss your chance to see this stunning Tony Chase gown worn by Dolly on her ABC television series in 1987 at the DIVA Exhibition at the @DenverArtMuseum! 🖤✨

Originally designed to be off the shoulder, during the taping, Dolly decided that wasn't her style and used black electrical tape to fixate the gown on her shoulders. During her performance of the gospel tune "Up Above My Head" with Patti Labelle, Dolly was so moved by the spirit that the electrical tape gave out!

This look was designed by Tony Chase and constructed at his costume studio by Rose Sanico. It was embellished by hand at Silvia's Costumes in Los Angeles, CA. by @thedollyarchive

55 years ago today, Dolly released her Coat of Many Colors album. 🦋

Though the original coat of many colors was repurposed, Dolly's Mama Avie Lee recreated the coat using the same sewing machine. Dolly poses here at her Tennessee Mountain Home with the recreation, as featured in Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones.

The album's title track was inspired by a true story from Dolly's childhood about a coat that Avie Lee Parton made for her one fall. Dolly famously wrote the song on one of Porter Wagoner's dry cleaning receipts. Dolly has always named the song as her favorite song she's ever written. It has since been immortalized in both a children's book and a television film.

Also featured on the album is "My Blue Tears," Carl Dean's favorite Dolly song. The song has been recorded by a multitude of people, including Dolly's own brother Randy Parton, actress Goldie Hawn, rock icon Linda Ronstadt, and bluegrass queen Rhonda Vincent. Dolly herself has revisited the song multiple times, including on Heartsongs: Live from Home, Little Sparrow, and Rockstar. by @thedollyarchive

Thank you @denverartmuseum and @vamuseum for inviting me to the opening of the DIVA exhibition. I’m so proud to have two of my favorite Dolly costumes on display for this event.

When I first proposed Dolly’s involvement back in the winter, she was reluctant because she thought of a diva as someone difficult to work with. It took some conversation between us about what this exhibition celebrates and the historical significance of the word “diva.” After thoughtful discussion, she approved of the project, and this weekend it came to fruition.

I’m so grateful to the @thedollyarchive team for helping prepare these pieces for travel. And I can’t thank Jill D’Alessandro and the incredible team at the Denver Art Museum enough for their remarkable attention to detail. Your presentation of so many wonderful pieces of history is immaculate.

I had so much fun at the opening gala and can’t wait to come back! Grief and gratitude. 💘 by @thedollyarchive

We are all a part of it. 💘

Thank you Cat Cardenas @voguemagazine by @thedollyarchive

Today marks the grand opening of Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum in the heart of downtown Nashville!

Though it has become a bittersweet celebration, Dolly would never want us to wallow in our sorrow and grief. We are so tremendously proud of all the hard work put into this beautiful experience, and we know Dolly is too.

It has been the honor of a lifetime for the whole Dolly Archive team to prepare this wonderful love letter from Dolly to all of you, her fans. Each item, whether it's a rhinestone-encrusted Lucy suit or one of Dolly's set lists from her 1981 Las Vegas residency, was given Dolly's blessing.

We promise to always honor, protect, and carry on the wonderful legacy that Dolly has left behind. She truly lived a life of many colors. She has changed our lives, just as she has touched each and every one of you.

We will always love you, Dolly. 🤍 by @thedollyarchive

In loving memory of Bob Mackie 🤍

One of the most legendary designers in Hollywood, Bob Mackie's creations have graced stages and screens all across the world. Mackie first designed for Dolly for her appearance on Cher's 1978 ABC variety special. The following year, Mackie designed several pieces for the television special Dolly & Carol in Nashville, including this show-stopping butterfly gown. Though their paths only crossed twice, Bob Mackie made some of the most memorable pieces in Dolly's collection.

Rest in peace, Bob Mackie. We will always love you.

— The Dolly Archive Team by @thedollyarchive

Tonight at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, @Reba McEntire paid tribute to Dolly with a performance of "Appalachian Memories." The Dolly Archive was honored to loan Reba a few pieces of Dolly's jewelry to wear during her performance, including Dolly's earrings from the "Does He Love You" music video and a butterfly ring from Dolly's personal collection. by @thedollyarchive

Dolly has always called herself a girl of many colors proudly. This fall, Dollywood’s Dolly Parton Experience features a celebration of the many colors of Dolly. Each outfit featured in the center case of Behind the Seams harkens back to the coat of many colors that Avie Lee Parton made with love in every stitch for a little girl with dreams of stardom. 🦋✨ by @thedollyarchive

When asked her favorite outfit, Dolly Parton chose this Tony Chase gown, adorned with glass beads and pearls throughout. She named the look the “Angel Dress” for its billowing sleeves, which she lovingly called her “angel sleeves.” She explained that wearing it made her feel like a star for the first time. She later wore a similar Angel Dress for her legendary performance of “He’s Alive” at the 1989 CMA Awards, a performance she remembered as a time she felt closest to God. She said both gowns remained among her favorites.

Dolly wore this look on the 1987 premiere of her ABC television show, which set a record for the most-watched series premiere at the time, to perform “Shattered Image.” Most notably, though, she wore the gown again on her television show in 1988, for the “Nashville Memories” episode celebrating the city of Nashville and country music at the Grand Ole Opry.

We mark this moment in history this week as the one in which we lost our leader on Earth but gained our North Star in the sky forever. It has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime to work alongside her in creating this official archive. She was instrumental in bringing all of us together for this work, and we will continue to share the wonderful legacy Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean has left behind. Her music, fashion, and love will be protected, and the integrity of all she stood for will be preserved for generations to come.

We will always love you, Dolly.
🤍 Fly high, Angel.

— The Dolly Archive Team by @thedollyarchive

10 years ago this week, Dolly brought the Pure & Simple Tour to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado! For the sold out show, Dolly donned this Steve Summers design, decked out with beaded fringe and pearls. This look was created especially for the show in Red Rocks, though Dolly also wore it again on the tour.

You can also see her dress from the second act of the show on display at Dollywood’s Dolly Parton Experience right now! ✨ by @thedollyarchive