Little Black Dress- the Way to Impress?

Every woman owns one - and if not they wish they did!

It is the most trusted piece of clothing in any girl’s wardrobe. So where did the reliable Little Black Dress come from? And what makes it the only trend in the ever-changing fashion industry that never goes out of style?

Little Black Dress

The Little Black Dress has been an essential part of a woman’s wardrobe since it was deemed the ‘must-have’ fashion item by Coco Chanel in 1926. Of course, there were black dresses before Chanel’s revolutionary creations but they were worn for entirely different reasons. Since then, the Little Black Dress has achieved the iconic status of THE perfectly simple, perfectly sexy garment.

Before the 1920s women only wore black for mourning; when Chanel designed the Little Black Dress, it became a mysterious, elegant and sexy colour. It conferred on women a sense of power, authority and style - and it still produces the same effect today. The trend continued throughout the 20th century, with many other designers making it key in their collections.In the 1950s, Christian Dior shocked society again. His New Look was luxurious, lavish and extravagant; a surprise for people after the scarcities of the war years. Dior wanted to make women feel feminine once more by making overstated Little Black Frocks, which only the wealthiest could afford.

The craze for wearing black started well before the 1920s. Phillip II of Spain, the 16th century equivalent to Karl Lagerfeld, started to wear black garments at formal occasions. Black became the essential ‘must-have’ of fashion bringing to the wearer an austere and dignified beauty.

In the 19th century, John Singer Sargent painted 'Madame X', a woman in a striking, sexy black dress posing provocatively. The image caused public outrage, all because she was wearing a slinky black dress, something that today would be modest on the front cover of any magazine.

The ultimate icon of the Little Black Dress, Audrey Hepburn, always looked fabulous in a LBD and they became key to her glamorous and graceful look especially after her appearance in the famous Givenchy frock that she wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Celebrities today still favour designer Little Black Dresses wearing them to movie premieres, parties and award ceremonies. It is the easiest dress for any woman to wear but can also be the most show stopping, striking and sensational colour to be seen in.

Audrey Hepburn - LBD

The Little Black Dress is the only concept in the fashion industry that hasn’t changed. There may be different variations of the dress every season and every year but the basic definition of it stays the same: it is little, it is black and it is a dress. It is vital for every woman to have because it doesn’t go out of style, it is suitable for any occasion and it always looks fabulous.

With the credit crunch affecting everybody’s shopping patterns, the LBD seems more crucial than ever. The Little Black Dress knows no social, economic or size boundaries. It is a LBD whether it is less than £10 in ASDA or £2,000 in Versace, a size six or 16, or whether it’s worn by an 18 or a 60 year old. It is a dress for every woman, whoever and whatever they are.

"You can wear black at any time," said Christian Dior, the master of making women feel marvellous "you can wear it at any age. You may wear it for almost any occasion; a 'little black frock' is essential to a woman's wardrobe."

It’s true; a Little Black Dress can be used for anything. The same frock could get you from work, to dinner, to dancing all with a few subtle changes. And this is what draws women back to their LBD time after time. Your favourite may now be a squeeze to get in to, with a few small holes and a slightly grey tinge. But it can make you feel anything you want to feel and by adding the correct accessories it can look perfect. It can be dressed up with a glitzy necklace and fabulous make-up, or dressed down with a crisp white shirt and woolly tights.

Many women have different Little Black Dresses in their wardrobes, similar only in their colour, whether it’s a sexy short shift, a graceful flowing gown or a chic shiny prom dress. Even black accessories can work with your LBD. The increase of Goth looks this season means a black lace dress can be worn with black patent heels, a black sequin belt, and a black clutch, without looking like you are about to attend a wake.

Times seem to be changing though; recently there has been an increase of other dresses on the high street offering women bold colours for their party attire. So perhaps it is time to hang up the Little Black Dress for good. The little red dress, perfect for Valentine’s Day, the little purple dress and other striking shades are becoming more popular. Even celebrities are favouring these designer coloured creations on the red carpet because they want to stand out among all those black dresses and black suits.

However, this is not the end for the Little Black Dress. It is still one of the most trusted pieces of clothing a woman has, and can still be thrown on at any point in time. It is so iconic in fashion history that it will never be pushed to the back of the wardrobe, removed from designer catwalks and high street shops, never to be seen again.

It is, after all, the Little Black Dress.