I've been thinking about this for days now, and reaching out to the Prince community to talk about it.

Over the weekend, I was given an item to do some research on. Someone I know purchased a guitar that has some sort of affiliation to Prince (not that it was his, but made my someone who makes guitars for him or something like that. I didn't get the whole story on that), but also a shirt. A faded teal, black polka dot, silk, hand-made shirt. Supposedly this is the shirt that Prince wore in the Alphabet Street video (first scene).

Initially, I was skeptically, of course. But it was clearly hand-made, even the shoulder pads were hand-made and it was old. I took it home, pulled up the video on my big screen tv, and paused in specific spots, where I could clearly see this very specific collar of this shirt. Not only did the collar match (it's very unique), but every single polka dot on the collar and around the top part of the shirt matched. Every. Single. One. Even the ones that were partially cut off in specific places, due to the hem of the shirt.

Guys--I think this is Prince's shirt.

The person who sold it, said he did some sound work for Prince in the late 80s, and took it from Sheila E's garage when she was throwing a bunch of stuff out.

I read that the costume designer for the Lovesexy tour was Helen Hiatt. I thought about asking her if she knew what happened to those clothes from the video shoot. Also thought about asking Sheila. I think Helen would reply to me before Sheila would.

I checked around the internet, trying to see if this shirt had been auctioned anywhere. Not that I could find. I also was wondering what was in the Lovesexy room at Paisley Park.

The guy who owns the shirt now wants to sell it of course. Me, I would just keep it forever. I'm convinced it is THE shirt, and it trips me out to think that right now, something he touched, sweated in and performed in, is now hanging in my closet. (That's the Prince freak in me speaking).

Anyway, just wanted to get that off my chest. It's been consuming me! I told a couple people at work, and they didnt' seem as excited as me. One guy didn't even know who Sheila E was, and he's 50. You'd think he's heard of at least The Glamorous Life.

So, what do you think?

Where's the pic of the teal shirt?? Can you post that?

Ohhhhhhhh....I wanna see. Now I am going to have to go watch the video again. Why does this stuff land on the doorstep of those who could care less about it except for the $? It ranks right up there with old guys driving red corvettes & can barely hobble out of them, while a young guy about 20 would die for one, but does not have the scratch!

luv4u said:

SuzyHomemaker said:

luv4u said:

Where's the pic of the teal shirt?? Can you post that?

Maybe. I haven’t posted pictures on the org in a long time. Might take me a minute.

Here is a link to help you out of the rustiness

http://prince.org/msg/3/196118

That's really cool. Hopefully (soon) you can find out if it's really his and let us know.

The pictures make it look almost white, but you can tell in person, that it is just old, faded teal. I'm working on close ups of the details. I had to go and open back up my old photobucket account...

Also note, the collar is folded down here in this picture, but he wore it up. I've got pictures in that style coming.

This is the close up of that unique collar. This is where I really scrutinized the shape and the polka dot placement. It is basically impossible in hand made items to duplicate polka dot placement. This is what makes me think it's legit.

The collar in an up position, like it work in the video. Again, look at the polka dots, especially along the seems, where they are cut off.

This is the sleeve, where cuff links would be inserted.

Hand made shoulder pad

Bottom hem. I noticed this hem style on other polka dots shirts he wore on the Lovesexy tour.

This is on the inside where the snaps are hidden. You can kid of see the teal a little bit better here. It's not as faded as the rest of the shirt.

OMG!! Is it tiny, too? I don't think he ever was ever over 130 lbs. ever! Yeah, you can tell it is/was some kind of teal.

WOW... When that video hit, we were watching it so carefully (and there were secret messages)... and the shirt is a prominent element in Princedom for me. How cool you have it. Put it in a glass case! Freakin cool.

Seahorsie said:

OMG!! Is it tiny, too? I don't think he ever was ever over 130 lbs. ever! Yeah, you can tell it is/was some kind of teal.

It's hard to say what size it would be. Obviously, being hand-made, there's no tag in it. I put it on (of course!) and it fit me. I'm like a 9/10 in tops (US misses size). The sleeves are very flowy.

That is awesome!

Ask Stacia Lang. She'd know. She's on FB & is very communicative with fans.

Do NOT sell it!!


pics. Thanks for sharing

This is beyond exciting Suzy!

It could be! Wow! How awesome is that!?

Thats from Chess King!

benni said:

Awww, how cool is that! Alphabet St. was the first music video I saw in my life and my Prince initiation. That shirt was something special. It's so awesome that it's still "alive".

rdhull said:

Thats from Chess King!

BlueShakooo said:

There's one thing that I don't understand... You wrote: "The guy who owns the shirt now wants to sell it of course. Me, I would just keep it forever." So you're not the owner yet? If so, the owner should sell it. To you.

He bought this and the guitar for $2500. He's supposed to be giving me more details, but hasn't gotten back in touch with me yet. Just told me to take it home and research it, knowing I knew more about Prince than he does, and know how to get on the computer and look up things (he doesn't).

TrivialPursuit said:

Ask Stacia Lang. She'd know. She's on FB & is very communicative with fans.

I thought she came on board after 1990?