Leslie Goddard presents The Little Black Dress

September 17, 2025 at 2 pm

It’s versatile, dependable and affordable. . . that Little Black Dress.  But how did it become such a fashion staple? Learn how Chanel helped dissociate the color black from mourning, how Audrey Hepburn helped establish the dress as a woman’s staple and how it was reinvented by everyone from Betty Boop to Prada.

Leslie Goddard holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University and master’s degrees in museum studies and theater. In these parts, she is not known for her education but for her portrayal of many historical figures:  Jackie Kennedy, Lilly Pullitzer, and Lady Bird Johnson to name a few.

Leslie is a lifelong resident of the Chicago area who has written three books on Chicago history.  She has been lecturing and performing on topics in history for more than 20 years, and her programs have been seen by audiences in a dozen states.

Leslie will provide us with a delightful presentation on this fashion staple, and you just might learn a few things, too.