• Corsets
• Zoot suits
• The Little Black Dress
• Coco Chanel, the dress's patron saint
• Breakfast at Tiffany's
• Little Black Dress: Vintage Treasure
• Vintage black dresses
• Little Black Dress To Go
• Vintage black dresses
• Nicole Miller
• Nordstrom
• BCBG Max Azria boat neckline black dress
• Black jersey dress

The Little Black Dress

Every era has had its I-cannot-live-without-it fashion staples. In the last 100 years, fashionistas have embraced - and ultimately shrugged off - everything from corsets to zoot suits to shoulder pads.

But there's one garment that's endured decade after decade: the little black dress.

Pourquoi?

Because it's slimming, goes with everything and, best of all, it hides stains.

The first little black dress was designed by Coco Chanel in 1926. At the time, the simple sleeveless dress was revolutionary - black dresses had previously been worn only during mourning.

But thanks to Chanel, they could suddenly be worn whenever. The dress could be dressed up with pearls or dressed down with a cardigan and boots. In short: It could be perfect all the time.

Since its birth, the dress has taken on a life of its own: it has starred in movies, has been the subject of countless books, and today, online shoppers can find shop after shop devoted to the classic uniform.

"Black always looks chic," says Terri Travers, founder of ThatPerfectLittleBlackDress.com, which is full of vintage black dresses. "Any woman, regardless of her size, shape, or occupation knows if she slips on a little black dress, she will look fabulous. A woman can go anywhere in it. A dinner, a party, work. It always looks classy."

So what should you look for in a little black dress? Stick with lightweight fabrics that can be worn year round. A black dress with a scoop neckline flatters almost everyone, and dresses with long straight sleeves or no sleeves at all are the easiest kinds to accessorize. Nicole Miller makes one (available at Nordstrom) with a sexy open back that can be covered up with a jacket for daytime wear. BCBG Max Azria has a lovely one with a boat neckline and a gathered waistline.

For the ultimate in simplicity, pair a simple American Apparel jersey dress in black with either sneakers or diamonds, as you wish.

"The bottom line," says Travers, "is that a little black dress just makes a woman feel really good."

 

Posted on February 06, 2006