Originating from the designs of the iconic Coco Chanel, the Little Black Dress (dubbed LBD) has been a signature style for over eight decades. How has this simple dress remained the avant-garde of fashion throughout the long years? The answer lies in its versatility.

You can wear it to a high-profile cocktail party, to a cozy family gathering, or perhaps to a casual day of shopping. It never looks out of place!

This love-affair with the little black dress began in 1926, when Ms. Chanel published an unembellished black dress in Vogue magazine. Women all over the world were captivated by its simplicity and rushed to acquire this piece of elegance into their wardrobe. Earlier it was the privilege of the rich who owned it as a sartorial statement. However, during the Great Depression the color and the shortness of the dress reflected the somber mood of the times, and swung into being a cultural favorite.

Though the LBD remained largely monochromatic, the decoration and the cut were altered significantly over the next few years. New designs erupted in the 1950s when women gained feministic values, resulting in a wave of fresh looks such as the belted, the boat necked, and the lace-edged dresses. In 1961, when Audrey Hepburn was seen in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, wearing a hip-hugging LBD, accessorized with vintage pearls, she became a symbol of stunning beauty to women worldwide. By the late 80s, many women wore leather Little Black Dresses, emitting a “dangerous” vibe while others sported ruffled peplum dresses. These styles have been seen reminisced in today’s world of fashion.

By Ushoshi Mookerjee

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Before the 1920s, the color black was only worn in periods of mourning. Women who wore black were considered indecent or sinful. After the first world war, as well as the outbreak of Spanish Influenza, it became common in France to see women wearing black for long periods of time, and the stigma lifted somewhat.

A part of the “anti-corset” generation, Chanel invented much of women’s style as we know it. She once described her work as “nothing more than transform[ing] men’s clothing into women’s jackets, haircuts, ties and cuffs.” She worked hard to create clothes both simple and sophisticated, even if they created scandal.

Women were drawn to the dress by its simplicity, elegance and cost. A few years later, the Great Depression forced many people to economize, which increased the popularity of the little black dress as a cheap way to look smart.

Coco Chanel. Nettie Rosenstein, a New York-based designer, popularized the dress in the United States. Though some claim she invented the dress before Chanel, the evidence is slim. Elsa Schiaparelli, Chanel’s rival, put her own fantastic twist on the LBD, by introducing a wrap-around version.

“Chanel’s Ford,” as the press then called it, had long sleeves. Subsequent decades have removed the sleeves and shortened the hemline. Perhaps the most famous little black dress was worn by Audrey Hepburn for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” not to mention the one worn by Betty Boop. Today, every style guide trumpets the dress as a wardrobe staple for all women.

By Eli Aino

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A staple for every woman’s wardrobe, the little black dress is a classic item, and can be re-invented every now and then for a different look, simply by accessorizing. It never goes out of style and is very versatile.

Don’t be afraid to stock up on a few black dresses. They can last for many years, and every woman should have at least half a dozen black dresses of different lengths and styles – a strapless short cocktail dress, a spaghetti strapped long simple dress, a dress shirt, a top, a skirt………

A simple black dress can be very elegant and sexy at the same time. The key is in accessorizing.

1. A simple strapless cocktail dress can be worn in the office by simply putting on a blazer or a cardigan. Remove the blazer, and you have a dress that is suitable for an evening event. Accessorize with some gold or glittery jewelry to add a festive touch. Fancy stockings or pumps can also add some drama to the dress.

2. Try putting together a simple black top and a soft, flowing black skirt with a metallic gold or silver big band belt. This would readily add glamour to an otherwise basic set of top and skirt. I took my 60-year old mother on a Carribean cruise. She had nothing to wear for her formal night, and we pulled this trick together with a gold belt we purchased on the cruise ship.

3. Gold looks best with black. If you have to choose between gold or silver, choose gold. Gold bangles, gold earrings, gold chain necklaces will add a festive touch to your black outfit.

4. Pearls go well with black dresses. A long strand of pearl with a single knot or a three-stranded pearl choker can give you the Jackie Onassis look.

5. If you can afford only one gown, stick to a very simple long gown. Think Audrey Hepburn, think Breakfast at Tiffany. Black simply just wouldn’t go out of style. Forget about orange, fuschia, lime green, magenta…. These colors go in and out of fashion.

By Shelly Oldman

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A Casual Look

One of the reasons men are drawn to black dress shirts is that black shirts no matter what style never seem to truly make it beyond the casual category. Unless you are the rare man that can make anything look stylish and formal it is best to avoid wearing that black shirt for job interviews and professional business meetings where the more formal business look is encouraged. That being said there are many occasions where a black dress shirt can make the perfect statement and even help you stand out and look smart.

Great Occasions to Wear a Black Dress Shirt

One occasion where a mens black dress suit can really stand out and make an impression is on a date where you want a dress casual look. Your date will be pleased that you took the trouble to wear a nice shirt, pants, and a tie for the occasion but did not go overboard. You can also wear a black dress shirt to the office if your dress policy is such that just dress shirts and pants are acceptable outfits. These shirts also go well at parties where you can either wear casual style slacks or jeans.

What Colors Go Well With a Black Dress Shirt

If you are going to wear a black dress shirt you are going to want to be extremely careful choosing what color of slacks and ties to go with this shirt. You are going to want to avoid wearing this shirt with a white suit unless you want to look to a movie hit man or someone who still disco dances. You also want to avoid a white tie and shoes as well. Most browns are also a pour choice to wear with your black suit as the two colors seem to class a bit and make you look a bit dull and boring. That being said here are some combination’s that look great with that black dress shirt.

Khaki pants in almost any shade except those tending to be more brown than tan will look great with your black shirt. Combine the pants with black shoes and belt.

By Tony X Jones

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First of all, a formal bridesmaid dress can be just as chic and stylish as one for a more relaxed wedding. They are not the big poufy dresses that bridesmaids had to wear to evening weddings in the past. For a black tie wedding, your attendants should wear floor length dresses, but they can still be very current and sophisticated.

Other than length, color is going to be one of your biggest decisions to make about your bridesmaid dresses. The trend for formal gowns is to go with deep neutral colors. You hear a lot of colors names like pewter, charcoal, slate, chocolate, and even black. What you are not finding is very many bridesmaid dresses in light or bright colors for formal weddings. It is not to say that you can’t have a floor length apple green dress for your attendants if it is your heart’s desire, but they may stick out like a sore thumb amongst the tuxedos and guests in more subdued colors.

The styles of formal bridesmaid dresses these days are slim and chic – there is not a petticoat in sight! Two of the most popular fabrics are silk chiffon and tissue taffeta. The chiffon is a beautiful flowing fabric that will fall softly in a slim skirt. It is often being shown with a pleated or shirred bodice falling into a skirt that is slender, but lightly gathered at the waist. All of these fabric effects help to make the chiffon a more forgiving fabric than it is when used in a single layer or draped on the bias. Your bridesmaids will thank you for this!

Tissue taffeta is a fabric with a crisper hand than the chiffon, and it is also opaque, unlike the sheer chiffon. The tissue weight of taffeta is wonderful, because it retains some of the same crispness of regular taffeta, but its lighter weight allows it to be pleated and gathered without being bulky. It is a great choice for a bridesmaid dress when you want a gown that has a skirt which can hold a shape like a slim A-line. The taffeta would also be fantastic for a black tie wedding in the fall or winter, whereas the chiffon is best for warmer weather.

By Laura Firenze

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