The Evolution of the Little Black Dress Explored in a New Exhibition in Edinburgh
July 2, 2023 in Fashion & Style by Julian Everett
The color black, now synonymous with chic sophistication, wasn't always seen in such a fashionable light. Until the fashion revolution sparked by Coco Chanel in 1926 with her iconic little black dress, black attire was primarily worn by servants. Chanel cleverly dubbed this shift "fashionable poverty," creating her stylish black dresses from luxurious silks, forever changing the landscape of fashion.
Currently, an exhibition titled "Beyond the Little Black Dress" is underway in Edinburgh, featuring approximately 60 pivotal black dresses from the 20th and 21st centuries. The curators aim to showcase the black dress not merely as a fashion trend, but as a marker of cultural and social changes.
Among the showcased pieces, one can look forward to seeing a Christian Dior dress designed for Wallis Simpson in 1949, as well as a flared evening gown by Norman Hartnell for Princess Margaret. The exhibition serves as a journey through the past century of fashion, revealing the transformation of the little black dress from a symbol of servitude to a staple of modern haute couture.
