{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1811229"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1811229/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PM1696/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PM1696/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2026PM1696","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PM1697","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PM1695","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1811229/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1811229","accessionNumber":"S.551-2025","objectType":"Dress","titles":[{"title":"Dress worn by Betty Boo","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"Alison Clarkson, known by her stage name Betty Boo, is a singer, rapper, songwriter and producer.  Born in west London in 1970, she began her music career as a member of hip-hop trio the She Rockers. Clarkson went on to achieve commercial success as a solo rapper and artist with several charting singles and a platinum debut album, <i>Boomania</i> (1990). In 1991 she was nominated for three Brit Awards and won Best Breakthrough Artist.\n\r\nThis dress was worn by Clarkson to attend the 1991 Brit Awards ceremony where she performed her single ‘Where Are You Baby?’ Designed by British fashion designer Arabella Pollen, the dress is reminiscent of playful sixties shift dress fashions and encapsulates the retro aesthetic that Clarkson adopted as a solo artist. It features a halter neck with an A-line skirt and is embellished with pieces of mirrored acrylic that create a shimmery disco-ball effect onstage.  \n\r\nThis retro style was a marked departure from her earlier hip-hop clothing choices of tracksuits, baseball jackets, and high-top trainers. Performing as Betty Boo, Clarkson created a playful yet accessible character through her combination of quick-witted rapping and stylish outfits. She chose the moniker as an homage to both the cartoon character Betty Boop and her activist grandmother, Betty Clarkson. \r\n","physicalDescription":"A black halter neck retro style minidress with cutout detail on the chest and an A-line skirt. Small pieces of mirrored plastic in various shapes are stitched on to the front and back of the dress, giving a kaleidoscope effect. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Arabella Pollen","id":"AUTH410966"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"sateen","id":"x30060"},{"text":"acrylic","id":"AAT14426"},{"text":"cotton","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Music","id":"THES253065"},{"text":"Musicians","id":"THES277525"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2026PM1696","2026PM1697","2026PM1695"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"FIG024","id":"THES414780"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Dress","id":"x47499"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"United Kingdom","id":"x29336"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1990","earliest":"1990-01-01","latest":"1990-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Donated by Betty Boo","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"77","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Neck to hem","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"44","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Arm to arm","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Dress designed by Arabella Pollen, worn by Betty Boo to attend and perform at the Brit Awards, 1991","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Betty Boo","id":"AUTH319161"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[{"text":"","id":""}],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.551-2025"],"accessionNumberNum":"551","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2025,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-18","recordCreationDate":"2025-10-17","availableToBook":false}}