Interview: Georgina Ripley, Principal Curator, Modern & Contemporary Design at NMS

As the National Museum of Scotland launches its highly anticipated Beyond the Little Black Dress exhibition, we spoke to Georgina Ripley the Principal Curator, Modern and Contemporary Design at National Museums Scotland about what makes her tick…

A love of fashion runs in my family (my great uncle started the fashion brand Minerva, favoured by Princess Margaret, and my mum left school at 16 to work for the famed London tailor, Mr Fish). 

Initially, I studied history at the University of Nottingham, where I was lucky to also spend a semester abroad in New Zealand. I wasn’t quite sure of my next move until I discovered the History of Dress MA at the Courtauld Institute of Art in 2006, set my heart on working in museums, and never looked back. 

After a year in London working in publishing at the Royal Academy of Arts, I moved to Edinburgh for a maternity cover position at National Museums Scotland, and immediately fell in love with the city. Determined to stay in Scotland, I took various contracts with museums and galleries before coming back to the National Museum in 2013. It’s been an amazing journey over the last decade, curating the Fashion & Style Gallery which opened in 2016, as well as the touring show ‘Body Beautiful: Diversity on the Catwalk’ – the first of its kind to examine inclusivity and body positivity in fashion. 

One of the privileges of this job is working with people from around the world who are so passionate about what they do, from fashion designers to design students and other museum curators. Most recently, I’ve been developing our summer exhibition, ‘Beyond the Little Black Dress’. Featuring over 60 looks, from design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, the exhibition deconstructs the iconic LBD to explore the radical power of black in fashion. Finally seeing it all come to life after six years of work (it was postponed from opening in 2020 due to the pandemic) is incredibly rewarding, if not also a little surreal!  

I’ve had some incredible opportunities to travel internationally with work, including to Paris, New York, and Kyoto, so this year I’d like to do a bit more exploring closer to home – the Isle of Harris is top of the list. I still love returning to London to see family and friends, so I’m also planning a long weekend there for my birthday this summer. First on the agenda is popping by to see the National Museum’s 18th century court dress currently on loan to the exhibition ‘Crown to Couture’ at Kensington Palace and I can never resist a day of shopping at Coal Drops Yard – homeware and lifestyle stores are a real weakness of mine. 

For a weekend on the go, you can bet I’ll be wearing my comfiest New Balance XC-72 trainers – their retro vibe elevates even the simplest of outfits. I also wouldn’t be without Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir, L:A BRUKET’s natural lip balm and NUDESTIX multi-tasking all-over face colour. 

Georgina will also co-host a stylish brunch and fashion presentation with St James Quarter at Duck & Waffle Edinburgh on Tuesday 4th July at 1pm.

The afternoon includes a drinks reception and three course brunch featuring signature Duck & Waffle dishes, followed by tea and coffee. Georgina will introduce the exhibition which deconstructs the iconic little black dress and examines the radical power of the colour black in fashion.  

A highlight of the event will be a fashion presentation featuring the season's most stylish little black dresses and looks from coveted brands across St James Quarter and Multrees Walk, hosted by Forth 1's Arlene Stuart. 

Tickets: £50 including a £5 charitable donation to National Museum of Scotland

Beyond the Little Black Dress opens Saturday 1st July to 29th October 2023 at National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh