Chanel, Balenciaga, Norman Hartnell, Dior and Marilyn Monroe’s LBD are among the star attractions at Little Black Dress, a new exciting exhibition at the City Museum which opens on Saturday 12th February 2011. Celebrating the history of this timeless classic from 1910 to the present day, the exhibition includes over 50 costumes from Portsmouth Museums Service, Hampshire County Council Museums and Arts Service and local people.

The little black dress is a wardrobe staple for many women. It has grown in popularity over the last century, while being reinterpreted for each new decade. This multimedia exhibition includes some of the the most memorable little black dress moments from fashion, film and pop culture. One of the star attractions is a black silk shoulder-less evening dress belonging to Marilyn Monroe. As well as vintage dresses from each decade there will be examples of matching underwear and some local Portsmouth made black corsets. Fine and decorative art and furiture from the reserve collections will compliment the dresses.

Portsmouth’s own take on the Little Black Dress is drawn from the wardrobes of local women. Katherine and Laura Thomson from Southsea are among 19 local women who modelled LBDs in a photoshoot. They wore their grandmother’s dresses – a Norman Hartnell and Mayfair Model – which are included in the exhibition. The framed photographs of all the women, which were taken by local photographer Duncan Allen, will be displayed in the exhibition.

For more information please visit www.portsmouthmuseums.co.uk