Be part of our exciting new exhibition, Back to Black.

We are asking members of the public to submit their thoughts about wearing black, and what it means to them, plus upload a picture if desired. The images and text will then be incorporated into a digital display within the Back to Black exhibition.

Historically most often associated with mourning, black was also a special-occasion selection for formal wear, receiving visitors, or for going out on the town. The fashion for black in the 1890s morphed into the little black dress from the 1920s flapper era to the 1950s New Look. Black has been an enduring staple of a woman’s fashionable wardrobe ever since.

Black clothing has also been adopted to express authority or to subvert and challenge it. The careful choice of colour in dress can make statements about class and gender, power and privilege, group affiliations and particularly subcultures, or be used to signal emotion.

Drawing from the National Trust’s dress collection, the objects on display in Back to Black span more than 100 years. They include well-known designers – both Australian and international – alongside examples made in the home or by unknown, skilled dressmakers.

Share your story below and visit Old Government House from Friday 15 March – Sunday 10 November 2024 to see how it is incorporated in the display.

 

Submit your story

Name(Required)
Accepted file types: jpg, png, Max. file size: 6 MB.
Terms of Service(Required)

All submissions are made in accordance with the following Terms of Use:

By making my submission to National Trust of Australia (NSW), I grant NT NSW a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to use the contents of my submission in any media worldwide for the purposes of forming part of, promoting or advertising the exhibition. This may include the use of my photos or text in the exhibition and on the NT NSW website, social media and associated publicity. I acknowledge and agree that NT NSW has absolute discretion as to whether any or all of my submission will be used and that NT NSW may edit, adapt or use any of my content, apply a title to my content and acknowledge my association with the content in any way, or not at all, as NT NSW sees fit. I am responsible for all content I contributed to NT NSW, including text, photos, videos, audio and links. I confirm I own or have the right to use any copyright material included in my submitted content (including music, photos, quotes and excerpts of audio or video), and that I have permission of anyone appearing or performing in the content and that I am not infringing any person’s rights by submitting the content to NT NSW. I also confirm I have, where appropriate, sought the consent of the parent or guardian of any person under the age of 18 who is featured in my submitted content.

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