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Little
Black
Dress
In 1926 Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel published a picture of a mid-length, simply cut black dress in American Vogue. Vogue called it ‘Chanel’s Ford’ likening it to the Model T, the first affordable motorcar that had opened up travel to the middle classes. Just like the car, the little black dress (as it became known) had a liberating effect, allowing women from all walks of life to look and feel stylish, and it soon became a firm fixture in their wardrobes. Fast forward 84 years and the little black dress is more popular than ever. Givenchy’s black sheath dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ is probably the most famous. One of only three made, the dress worn in the film was sold at a charity auction in 2006 for £467,000.
Thankfully we don’t need that kind of money to buy a little black dress these days. With great designs and prices available at Black White Denim, the LBD remains within reach of any budget. But given such a huge choice, what makes the perfect LBD? Here are five tips to help choose the right one for you:
SIMPLICITY. Keep the shape simple. Anything overly embellished or on trend is not going to stand the test of time, so be ruthless when you’re searching for ‘the one’. Ignore ruffles, bows, layers and jewels if you can and look for the beauty that comes with simplicity.
VERSATILITY. Do the ‘up or down’ test. By that I don’t mean standing up and sitting down (although that’s actually quite helpful too). Will it ‘dress up’ and ‘dress down’? If your dress only works with killer (read uncomfortable) heels & stockings and not with flats and opaque tights, then it’s a no-no.
LENGTH. Keep it just below, above or on the knee. The L in little black dress is there for a reason. The dress should be little, not long. Its length should be in proportion to your body shape and height. You know where the most flattering point is on your leg for length so stick to it and don’t be influenced by trends such as midi and maxi. They will date and your new dress will be at the charity shop within the year.
ACCESSORIES. Think about what accessories you already have at home. Finding the perfect LBD often gives you a reason to pull out some old favourites and give them a new lease of life. Introducing a new dress to your wardrobe that in turn makes existing pieces more wearable is a clever investment.
TIMELESSNESS. Chances are you will be photographed wearing your LBD at some point. Think ahead to how that shot will look now and in ten years time. Will the dress stand the test of time? Will it look as good then as it does now? If you feel that you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, you’ve hit the jackpot.
To summarise, a little black dress is a must for any stylish woman’s wardrobe. You can never have too many of them and, chosen wisely, today’s buys are tomorrow’s vintage.
