Sew Michele • Stories from behind the scenes

Behind the Quilts and Costumes

Michele’s Hollywood Keepsakes

The hands behind the costume changes

Some keepsakes hold more than a production title. They carry the people, the work, and the small acts of appreciation that stay with you long after the costumes are put away.

Michele—Whit’s partner in life and the maker behind Michele’s Quilts—recalls working in costuming for 18 years. These two pieces come from her memories of working with the chorus performers on The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

As Michele remembers it, each girl could have up to 19 costume changes. Caring for those costumes and keeping the performers ready made for quite an experience. The Christmas poster below was a gift from the chorus-girl cast to the crew, including Michele.

The personal history on this page is shared from Michele’s recollections, as told to Whit. Photographs document the objects as they are today.

A Christmas thank-you from the chorus

The panoramic poster pairs the chorus photographs with handwritten signatures and a Christmas greeting. Its folds and wear are part of the physical object’s history; the reverse bears the name “Michele Neely.”

Full panoramic Christmas poster with chorus portraits and signatures — The complete poster. Select any photograph to open a larger view.

A closer look at the poster

Christmas poster left section with handwritten signatures — Left section: portraits, signatures, and the printed greeting.

Christmas poster middle section with handwritten signatures — Middle section: portraits, signatures, and the printed greeting.

Christmas poster right section with handwritten signatures — Right section: portraits, signatures, and the printed greeting.

Reverse of poster with the handwritten name Michele Neely — “Michele Neely” on the reverse.

Watch the poster up close

The poster’s next chapter

The poster is offered through our eBay listing. Visit the listing for current availability, condition details, and sale terms. This story will remain here even after the poster finds a new home.

The signatures are presented as photographed; this page does not provide independent autograph authentication. The poster is not described as signed by Dolly Parton.

FROM OUR GNUWHIT EBAY STORE

Cast-Signed Christmas Poster

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas chorus-cast keepsake from Michele’s wardrobe years.

See the eBay listing for current price, availability, photographs, and condition details.

View the poster on eBay

Affiliate disclosure: As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, GNUWHIT may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through this link, at no additional cost to you.

Personal collection • Not for sale

A gift from Dolly, kept close

Michele recalls receiving this The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas belt buckle personally from Dolly Parton. It is a treasured reminder of that chapter of her working life—and one she is keeping.

Whit and Michele identify engraved signatures on the reverse as those of Dolly Parton, Burt Reynolds, and the film’s director. Two additional engraved signatures remain unidentified. These are signatures engraved into the buckle, rather than hand-signed ink autographs.

Michele’s film-title belt buckle in its box, featuring a building design — Michele’s belt buckle and its box. Personal collection—not for sale.

Watch the buckle in detail

No purchase link here: this buckle belongs to Michele’s personal collection.

Front and reverse, up close

Select either photograph for a larger view.

Close-up of Michele’s belt buckle front with the film title and building design — Front: the film title surrounding the detailed building design.

Reverse of Michele’s belt buckle showing the Fall of 1981 thank-you inscription and engraved signatures — Reverse: “TEXAS–LA,” “THE FALL OF 1981,” “MANY THANKS,” and the engraved signatures.

The story continues in fabric

Behind the wardrobe memories and the quilts is the same love of making. Explore Michele’s fabric work, or return to Sew Michele as more stories and creations join the collection.

Explore Michele’s Quilts Back to Sew Michele