The National Museum of Scotland has opened the exhibition Beyond the Little Black Dress, presenting more than 60 images gathered from collectors and designers around the world. The show invites visitors to see how a single silhouette has evolved across continents and decades, revealing the dress that became a universal wardrobe staple.
The exhibition launched on Friday, June 30, and explores the journey of the iconic little black dress through fashion history. With over 60 outfits and ensembles on display, the curators trace the garment’s influence from its early modern roots to its current status as a versatile, almost universal, style statement.
The exhibition’s chief curator, Georgina Ripley, notes that the dress mirrors at least a century of social change. Despite extensive research, scholars have not identified who first coined the phrase “little black dress,” a term that has endured across generations.
Ripley explains that the display intentionally moves beyond simply showcasing the dress. From its inception, numerous LBDs crossed traditional lines of gender expression, while others teetered between homage and rebellion. The goal was to provoke thought and spark discussion among audiences about meaning, identity, and fashion’s power to reflect culture.
Additionally, a separate London exhibition previously highlighted the striking corsetry of Vivienne Westwood, underscoring how designers use undergarments and external silhouettes to challenge norms and push boundaries in style and society.