From Coco Chanel to Audrey Hepburn, women have been lured by the glamour of this timeless fashion item for years and a new exhibition at Brighton Museum charts its history.

There's nothing else like it
Wallis Simpson, once said of the little black dress, 'When the little black dress is right, there is nothing else to wear in its place'.

Brighton Museum celebrates the contribution of the Little Black Dress to women's lives with an exhibition charting the history of this iconic garment, from the 1920s to the present day.

Leading fashion designer
Curated by leading fashion designer Andrew Fionda (of the label Pearce II Fionda), exhibits are drawn from Andrew Fionda's personal archives, Brighton Museum's costume collection and designers from both haute couture and the high street.

From Joanna Lumley to John Galliano
The exhibition inludes a stunning range of 'little black dresses' and star items include:

• Joanna Lumley's 'It transformed my life utterly' Jean Muir dress
• a favourite outfit of Joan Collins
• Anouska Hempel's dramatic puff ball, recently modelled by Hilary Swank in Tatler
• Julien MacDonald's flowing creation worn by Victoria Beckham
• a John Galliano design donated by Lady Sally Albemarle, a regular on best dressed lists in New York and London.

Admission to the museum and the exhibition is free. Little Black Dress continues until 1 June 2008.

back to news listings