The ultimate killer: Little Black Dress

Ah, that classic! The creation of the little black dress is often called the most important discovery in the fashion world. It fits everywhere – from first date to Friday night cocktails to office dresscode. It comes in various shapes and forms and even in different lengths (yes, some of the best examples of little black dress are not that little!) But in order to understand this trend best we should take a quick historical outlook first.

The ultimate queen of fashion, Coco Chanel, is believed to be the one who transformed it into a must-have item. The concept, of course, was born long before that, but the increasing popularity of this design came into light in 1926.  Chanel’s “Model T, the Ford of frocks” (as fashionistas around the globe often call it) published in American Vogue shaped fashion history. Long-sleeved, simple yet elegant and in black crêpe de Chine - the LBD is said to has become every woman's  uniform ever since.
                                           

Even the World War II couldn’t stop this trend from spreading like wildfire. And during post-war years LBD evolved with Christian Dior’s New Look. Dior is said to have brought a sexier update to the dress with cinched waist and a full skirt. Lanvin, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga and Balmain followed, showing their own versions of the LBD. And with the trend slightly crawling onto the silver screen, Hollywood icons embraced the LBD one by one. Which leads us to Givenchy’s iconic LBD for "Breakfast at Tiffany’s" in 1961, now known as Audrey Hepburn’s signature look. The dress Holly Golightly wears in the movie, designed by Hubert de Givenchy, became the most recognizable look of the 1960s. Moreover, it started an excessively successful partnership between the designer and Hepburn.

Slowly skirts started rising and waists deminishing. Hippies brought the boho style and created yet another idea of what’s fabulous. Somewhere in Paris however classic gorgeousness still existed in the works of then young Yves Saint Laurent. In America young designers like Halston and Diane Von Furstenberg shared their own interpretations. Then we go straight to Gianni Versace who also mastered the LBD with one model in particular shining forever in the fashion history - Elizabeth Hurley’s Versace safety-pin dress at the premiere of “Four weddings and a funeral”. This sexy dress is considered a cult even nowadays with its bold decolletage and overall glamorous nakedness. In the ‘90s another LBD became a worldwide fenomenon. Diana, Princess of Wales, wore the so called “revenge dress” that got everybody’s eyes at London’s Serpentine Gallery. The dress by Christina Stamboulian is said to have placed Diana, who has already a worldwide celebrity at the time, on the stage as a fashion icon, too. She has been considered a style icon ever since. 

Other celebrity LBD lovers include Wallis Simpson, Edith Piaf, Elizabeth Taylor and Kate Moss.

But why exactly is it a timeless classic? And why we all adore LBD? The answer is simple - LBD stands for classical elegance. The colour is suitable for every occasion, suits all body shapes (it’s said to make you look optically slimmer), holds an undeniable amouth of sexuality and sensuality in it and can basically match everything. From lace to leather, from gold to metal, from pearls to diamonds – LBD can be combined with everything. It can be discreet or concervative, it can be bold, chic, glamorous. It’s OK to wear at any social occasion and you can basically wear it all day and just switch jackets and/or accessories from one event and location to another.
My personal love for the LBD dates for years now and I can proudly say I have 10 of them (yeah, I know, I’m quite obsessed!) These dresses save me in various social ocasions and have never let me down. Here are my most favourite LBD looks from my own wardrobe:
 

What do you think about this iconic trend? Do you love it as much as I do? And do you have your own interpretations or creative ideas about how to combine LBD? Let me know in the comments below! J