The offered velvet "peasant vest" was worn by Meg Ryan as Pamela Courson, the girlfriend of Jim Morrison, in the 1991 film The Doors. Ryan wears the vest in the scene, set in 1966, when The Doors first play the legendary West Hollywood club The Whiskey A Go Go. The heavily detailed embroidery and brocade design work can be clearly seen during this part of the film. The Doors was directed by Oliver Stone, and stars Val Kilmer as Morrison, as well as Kyle MacLachlan as keyboardist Ray Manzarek, Frank Whaley as guitarist Robby Krieger, Kevin Dillon as drummer John Densmore, and Kathleen Quinlan as journalist Patricia Kennealy.
The costume is accompanied by a detailed letter of authenticity from The Golden Closet, which reads:
This vest was worn by the character “Pamela Courson” portrayed by actor Meg Ryan in the 1991 biopic film “The Doors.” The Indian peasant vest is constructed our of a rust velvet material with gold brocade design and mirror insets. Ms. Ryan wears this vest during The Doors first appearance at Whiskey A Go Go. “The Doors” was directed and written by Oliver Stone, and co-written by Randall Johnson. This movie starred Val Kilmer and Meg Ryan, and is a biopic about the 1960-70’s rock band of the same name, which emphasizes the life of its lead singer Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer). The film portrays Jim Morrison as the larger–than-life icon of the 1960’s rock and roll counterculture, and the drug-using free love hippie lifestyle. This garment is in good screen worn condition with damage due to age, accompanied by a letter of authenticity from the costume house.
The letter is signed by The Golden Closet CEO Breanna Livie. Their LOAs are some of the most respected in the world of entertainment wardrobe, costumes and props. Starting in the the late 1940s, her grandfather, Charles James, worked as a costumer for the major studios for over 40 years. After many of the studios disbanded and sold off their costume and wardrobe departments in the 1970s, James and Breanna's father, James Livie, formed Costume Rentals Corporation, one of the first independent movie costume companies. And in 1990, James Livie formed Eastern Costume Company. In 1996, having gained her own extensive experience and familiarity with wardrobe and prop departments through her family, Breanna founded The Golden Closet.
The vest measures a petite (like Meg Ryan) 16 x 15 1/2 inches at its largest dimensions. It shows many distresses, fabricated for the look in the film and from wear, as well as some missing mirror pieces. Excellent condition.