In the fast-moving world of fashion, it can be tough to keep up with all the trends that come and go with which season and year. But every fashionista holds on to a couple of essentials in her wardrobe, and dresses are a definite must-have. One of the many types of dresses that has made earned a permanent fixture in the wardrobes of women everywhere is the little black dress, or LBD.
The LBD
The little black dress is essentially an evening or cocktail dress that is cut simply and with a short to medium length. Ideally, the style of the dress should be kept as simple as possible, any designs that are “of-the-moment” trendy would be deemed as dated a few years down the road. After all, this clothing piece is meant to be a wardrobe staple for a number of years. Many fans of fashion can agree that as a “rule”, every woman should own a simple, elegant LBD that can be dressed up or down, regardless of the occasion.
A Short History
In the 1920s, Coco Chanel published designs of a simple, short black dress with long, narrow sleeves, in the American Vogue magazine. This dress was dubbed as “Chanel’s Ford”, named as such because like Henry Ford’s Model-T car, it was widely accessible to women of all social classes, though only in the colour black. The magazine also predicted that the dress would be “a sort of uniform for all women of taste”; and true enough, the LBD has become a permanent fixture in wardrobes everywhere, and stands as unrivalled as the epitome of timeless style and elegance.
As noted fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, once said, “One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a Little Black Dress.”
One also cannot get past the topic of the little black dress without mentioning Audrey Hepburn. The LBD cemented its status as a perennial fashion favourite when a black Givenchy dress appeared on Hepburn in the hit movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961. Widely regarded as the most famous little black dress of all time, Hepburn’s outfit in the movie — a black dress accessorised with pearls — has epitomised the standard for wearing a black dress with utmost sophistication.
How To Wear
Even with a wardrobe full of clothes, all women face the same problem of fussing over what to wear every day before leaving the house. An all-purpose dress like the little black dress can save us on days like these and ensures that we are still immaculately dressed for whatever the occasion may be. The classic look for wearing the dress is wearing it with pumps, and it is probably the best one. That can take you from a formal business meeting at work to an after-work date with your friends. And if you are heading out for a party, turn up the heat by pairing the dress with a pair of boots or killer heels and go crazy with accessories.
The little black dress attained such iconic fame and status that it became an integral part of a woman’s wardrobe. Perhaps more than any other piece of clothing, it has been able to accompany us for many important moments of our lives, whether it is for parties, jobs interviews, work meetings, funerals and weddings.
So tell us, what was your most memorable moment in your LBD?