Help with a themed night in South Africa

[BBV]

Can anyone shed any light on "seebeen chic" described this way:
"picture the 60s and the black people dressing up in their Sunday best to attend a special event - the men in their suits with potentially mis-matched or white shirts and bright ties and ladies in colourful waisted dresses and matching accessories."

The man's outfit sounds pretty straight forward but some help with the ladies wouls be much appreciated! Style of dress maybe...

 

[cactusandcattails]

Never heard that term, but to me it conjures up something like this dress. Would be worn with matching shoes purse and hat and probably white gloves.

Though the dress could certailnly be solid color and more tailored in the Jackie O style.

 

[BBV]

Seebeen Chic

Oh, thank you! that's basically what I thought too...but was having troube picturing it. That dress is totally amazing by the way !

 

[cactusandcattails]

Thanks! I like it too. It is by Nelly Don. I have not sold it because it has few issues but it is wearable and I may list in the spring.

 

[Leisa]

BBV - I kinda just threw this together for you. It's very similar to what my Mom used to wear to church in the 50's - 60's.

Always, always the gloves & hat. :D

<font size=1>with thanks to the ebay sellers who's pics I snagged.</font>

 

[sues*stuff]

I can't believe this is an actual term---I got zero hits on google.

Sue

 

[vertugarde]

Well you might check your theme night because I didn't recognise the that spelling either but I did recognise the other 'shebeen.'

From Wikipedia;

Chiefly in Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and Zimbabwe, a shebeen (Irish: sibín) is an illicit bar or club where excisable alcoholic beverages are sold without a licence.

The word shebeen saw general use by Irish immigrants who worked in the anthracite patches of Pennsylvania. One of the leaders of the Molly Maguires was a shebeen-keeper, hanged in Scranton. In South Africa and Zimbabwe, Shebeens are most often located in black townships as an alternative to pubs and bars, where during apartheid and the Rhodesian era, black Africans could not enter a pub or bar reserved for white Africans. South African Shebeens serve commercial beers as well as Umqombothi, a traditional African beer made from millet.

The word is of Irish origin, spelt síbín in Irish Gaelic, though its etymology is obscure.

Great costume suggestions BTW.

 

[BBV]

thankyou for your help!

Your right, I think there is a spelling error and it means Shebeen - atleast now we have something to work with - fab hat by the way!