The Little Black Dress: How Do You Wear It?
By Raquel Parks
The little black dress is one of the most iconic pieces in the fashion world. It's timeless, it's classic, and has a place in every woman's closet. The dress has been around for decades, evolving into various styles. Yet, the little black dress' versatility and simplistic style is what truly makes it a fashion staple.
Throughout the years, many designers have created their own version of the little black dress (LBD). Moschino is among those designers that continue to honor the LBD with their updated creations.
However, it was French designer, Coco Chanel, who introduced the signature dress to women in the 1920's. Chanel became prominent for her casual yet elegant fashion designs of women's pants suits, trousers, and dresses.
She carried this concept into her creation of the LBD by keeping it basic and sophisticated. Since its introduction, the LBD has been worn by some of the most famous women, throughout history.
Audrey Hepburn is known as a major fashion icon. Therefore, when she wore the Givenchy black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's, she captured the essence of the LBD. The long dress was made of satin, and paired with black opera gloves, a pearl chocker of multiple strands, and a diamond tiara.
The accessories Hepburn wore with the dress exemplified the personality of her character in the movie. It also added touches of glamour to the overall look. That is why the look has since been so beloved and mimicked.
The simplicity and effortless, elegance of the dress is what makes it a trademark. The most appealing part about the LBD is that it's accessible for all women.
From the office to a dinner party, the LBD is well suited for any occasion. More importantly, it's easy to wear and can be as dressy or as casual, as desired. For work, a black dress can be paired with a white-tweed blazer, a string of pearls, and leather black pumps.
After work, you can remove the blazer. Replace the pumps with leopard stilettos and a small clutch. If you're at a dinner party, it might be nice to glam up the dress with black satin shoes, a diamond or pearl necklace (that falls at the neckline), and a tiny clutch.
The possibilities are endless. The beauty of the LBD is that you can dress it up, keep it basic, and accessorize it in any manner. Remember to stay true to your own personal style.
Raquel is a Michigan native with a Bachelors in Journalism from the University of Michigan. She loves fashion and writing about life's everyday stories. She has written for various local publications that include Dearborn Press & Guide and Detroit Fashion Pages. Raquel also writes for her own local events blog, Metro Diva Pages. You can visit Raquel's blog at metrodivapages-rdp.blogspot.com and follow her on Twitter @MetroDivaPages.
