Back to Black – Stories Revealed
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.