Beyond the Little Black Dress
From design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, this exhibition deconstructs the little black dress and examines the radical power of the colour black in fashion.
About Beyond the Little Black Dress
The colour black can be interpreted in many subtle and often contradictory ways. The exhibition will explore how its complexities have made the little black dress simultaneously expressive of piety and perversion, respect and rebellion. It will examine the well-mannered cocktail attire of the early 20th century to the leather and latex worn by members of punk and fetish subcultures.
A wardrobe staple:
Beyond the Little Black Dress will open with a simple, short black dress designed by Coco Chanel in 1926. Considered radically modern, it disregarded convention entirely in both the stark design and sombre shade, that had traditionally been associated with mourning. At the time it was hailed by US Vogue as “the frock that all the world will wear”. The little black dress became a wardrobe staple, a symbol of femininity and a byword for chic, with each new silhouette capturing the spirit of its time.
Culture and politics:
The little black dress remains a blank canvas for broader political and cultural shifts. It can challenge social norms around race, gender and sexuality to reflect evolving ideals of beauty and identity, proving its infinite capacity for reinvention.
The exhibition will chart a century of fashion in a series of themed, immersive displays. Iconic early pieces by Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Jean Muir will be juxtaposed with recent looks by ground-breaking contemporary designers and brands like Gareth Pugh, Simone Rocha and Off-White.
Black British designers:
The exhibition features Black British designers whose work explores both Blackness in terms of identity, and the role the colour black plays in crafting a futuristic, sci-fi aesthetic. Elsewhere, the exhibition considers how perceptions of the colour black differ in a global context, as well as how the intervention of smart technologies is establishing a blueprint for a more sustainable future.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Sponsored Links
Other Events at National Museum of Scotland
Cold War Scotland
Exploring Scotland’s critical position on the frontline of the Cold War, a new exhibition will tell the stories of the Scots at the centre of this global conflict.
READ MOREMonkeys: Our Primate Family
See some of the rarest and most endangered primates on Earth in 'Monkeys: Our Primate Family' at the National Museum of Scotland.
READ MORE
Summer Family Fun
Drop-in for some holiday fun and games at the National Museum of Scotland this summer.
READ MORESponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Snapshots: Gallery Short Talks
Join us on Thursdays at The Palace of Holyroodhouse for a short talk on one of the fascinating photographs in our exhibition Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography!
READ MORE
You Mean the World: Exhibition Launch
Join us at the Royal College of Nursing on 25th June for the launch of our new exhibition about nursing in the climate crisis!
READ MORE
You Mean the World Exhibition
This exhibition explores the history of air pollution and of recycling and re-use in nursing and shows how talented nursing teams are taking climate action today.
READ MORE
Monkeys: Our Primate Family
See some of the rarest and most endangered primates on Earth in 'Monkeys: Our Primate Family' at the National Museum of Scotland.
READ MORE
The Scottish Colourists with The Fleming Collection
Meet Theo Albano, Director of the Fleming Collection, at Dovecot on Sunday 29th June, as we say farewell to the Scottish Colourists.
READ MORE
Visual Arts Scotland: Inches Carr Craft Development Award Showcase Exhibition
The Inches Carr Craft Development Award Showcase Exhibition, at Dundas Street Gallery from 2nd to 6th July, will highlight 16 shortlisted crafters and makers.
READ MORE
Alexander Goudie: La Belle Vie – Act II
The Scottish Gallery proudly presents the second chapter in our celebration of Alexander Goudie’s vivid worlds: the sunlit traditions of Brittany and the theatrical elegance of Glasgow.
READ MORE
Find other events in Edinburgh
Sponsored Links