A custom made one-of-a-kind sequined performance romper owned and stage-worn by Kate Pierson of The B-52’s during the Cosmic Thing Tour (1989-1990) and Good Stuff Tour (1992), including a documented television performance on Saturday Night Live (NBC, April 21, 1990). Custom designed for Pierson by Venezuelan designer Federico Maquahe. Photo-matched to live performance photography. Accompanied by Kate Pierson’s signed letter of provenance, a Letter of Authenticity from Gotta Have Rock and Roll, and period magazine pages and clippings.
Video Documentation
Photo-Match
This romper is photo-matched to live performance photography showing Kate Pierson wearing the costume on stage with The B-52’s. The distinctive combination of the large circular gold and red paillette/coin fringe throughout the body and sleeves, the overlapping sequined bra cup construction, the sheer inverted triangle midriff cutout, the beige fishnet-style net sleeves, and the specific arrangement of dangling beaded fringe are collectively and individually identifiable in the reference photography. A dedicated photo-match graphic is included in the photographic documentation accompanying this listing.
Historical Context
The B-52’s are one of the most beloved and commercially successful alternative and new wave acts in American music history. Their 1989 album Cosmic Thing — their fifth studio record, released on Reprise Records — became their commercial breakthrough, producing the global hits “Love Shack” (which reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100) and “Roam.” The Cosmic Thing Tour (1989-1990) and the subsequent Good Stuff Tour (1992) represented the peak of the band’s mainstream visibility. Their April 21, 1990 Saturday Night Live appearance — hosted by Alec Baldwin — saw Pierson perform “Cosmic Thing” and “Channel Z” in this romper to a national television audience.
Kate Pierson is one of rock’s most distinctive visual and musical performers, and her stage costuming — always bold, theatrical, and custom-designed — has been as central to The B-52’s identity as their music. This romper exemplifies her aesthetic philosophy. In a 2015 interview with Yahoo Style, Pierson reflected: “I was doing space girl outfits way before Katy Perry or Gaga! When I was little, I used to think, ‘That’s the way people in the future are gonna dress! They’ll be wearing space suits, and it will be all silver, all the time, it’s gonna glitter.'”
Stage & Performance Use
Pierson wore this romper across both the Cosmic Thing Tour (1989-1990) and the Good Stuff Tour (1992), and in the April 21, 1990 episode of Saturday Night Live (NBC Studios, New York, hosted by Alec Baldwin). The Gotta Have Rock and Roll LOA confirms the costume was worn “on stage during the B-52’s Cosmic Thing Tour.” Pierson’s own letter confirms it was “both owned and worn by me as a member of The B-52’s.” Additional documented appearances are included in the accompanying video compilation and magazine clippings.
Specifications
· Designer: Federico Maquahe (Venezuela)
· Type: Custom Made one-of-a-kind stage performance romper
· Size: 2/4
· Construction: Red cotton body; sheer beige polyester nylon fishnet-style sleeves; overlapping large circular gold and red paillette/coin embellishment covering the bra cups and cascading in beaded fringe throughout the body and sleeves; gold bugle and seed bead detailing; sheer inverted triangle midriff cutout; built-in bra structure; center back zipper closure; back bra clasp; single hook-and-eye at back of neck
Condition
Good. Slight color fade consistent with age. Moderate wear at underarms with areas of pilling. The beading, bugle beads, and paillette/coin fringe are intact throughout. Noticeable surface scratches and minor indentations to the paillettes consistent with active live performance use. Well preserved overall given the extent of performance use documented.
Included Items
5 original magazine/newspaper clippings featuring the artist/item.
Kate Pierson signed letter of provenance (dated October 5, 2013).
Gotta Have Rock and Roll Letter of Authenticity.
Julien’s Auctions lot cards.
Provenance
Originally donated by Kate Pierson to the Saugerties-Woodstock Animal Shelter benefit at Gotta Have Rock and Roll’s “The Rock & Roll Pop Culture Auction” (September 18-27, 2013, Lot 174 — “B-52’s Kate Pierson ‘Cosmic Thing Tour’ Stage Worn Custom Made Sheer Red Dress”). Subsequently sold as Lot 1077 at Julien’s Auctions MUSIC ICONS (May 19-22, 2023, New York).
Accompanied by Kate Pierson’s signed letter of provenance (dated October 5, 2013), which states:
“I fully affirm that the item listed below was both owned and worn by me as a member of The B-52’s.”
With handwritten addition: “Wow! I love this piece! Thanks for bidding! Proceeds to go to Woodstock/Saugerties Animal Shelter.”
Also accompanied by a Gotta Have Rock and Roll Letter of Authenticity (dated 9/28/2013) confirming stage use during the Cosmic Thing Tour and designer attribution to Federico Maquahe; and Julien’s Auctions lot cards from the 2023 sale.
Nostalgia Bandit Letter of Provenance
This lot will be accompanied by a Nostalgia Bandit Letter of Provenance — a document printed on official Nostalgia Bandit letterhead, signed by Nostalgia Bandit’s principal, and affixed with the official Nostalgia Bandit embossed seal. The Letter of Provenance reproduces the complete final auction description for this lot in full, memorializing all provenance documentation, attribution, supporting evidence, and condition details as presented herein. It is designed to travel with the lot through all future ownership transfers as a permanent, platform-independent physical record of the item’s documented history.
Shipping & Measurements
FIRST AND THIRD PARTY SHIPPING OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Contact Nostalgia Bandit for a shipping quote: shipping@nostalgiabandit.com
