The Enduring Allure of the “Little Black Dress”
From Coco Chanel to Audrey Hepburn to Kendall Jenner
By Amy Strongin
Dressing in black has been around since Roman times, signifying people who are in mourning. In some parts of the world women will wear black for one to four years after a loved one has passed. It could be said that Queen Victoria started a fashion trend by wearing only black for 40 years of her 64-year reign following the death of her husband Prince Albert.
Coco Chanel changed the face of wearing black with the introduction of her iconic Little Black Dress. A crepe de chine, adorned with pearls; it appeared in Vogue in 1926. Described as “a uniform for all women of taste.” Chanel’s Little Black Dress heralded in a new era that convinced women they needed to have an elegant and stylish staple in their wardrobe that could be worn for any occasion and it specifically needed to be black.
This exhibit provides historical background for dressing in black and how it evolved from mourning attire to a fashion staple. I reference the iconic Coco Chanel and how her creation introduced a new style that has never gone out of fashion I explore how it evolved from the late 1920s depression era style to today. Many magazines still publish spreads that feature models and celebrities in little black dresses which I have uploaded for this exhibit. I have also included still images from various designers who took inspiration from Coco Chanel’s design and gave it a more updated look; from Dior in the 1940s, Lagerfeld in the 50s and Versace in the 1990s. I also include videos that explain the history of the dress from mourning dress to party dress as well as images from various museum exhibit around the world.
This exhibit focusses on how Audrey Hepburn and her collaboration with Givenchy for her role as Holly GoLightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s helped establish the Little Black Dress as her signature style and brought into women’s consciousness the importance of having this wardrobe essential. Through my white paper, stills and videos I try to give credence to what is the allure of the Little Black Dress and why does it endure?
Credits
By Amy Strongin