The LBD, or "Little Black Dress," is a staple and definite must have in every female closet. Whether you are going for a night out on the town, or attending a black tie affair, the LBD is perfect for any and all occasions, as it is one of the few fashion pieces that has the transformable power to style up or down at your command. Despite the timeless and classic labels the LBD has earned, its history of being identified as "the shape of the future," is rather brief, having made its debut in the 1920s thanks to none other than Coco Chanel!Generally speaking, when we think of a little black dress, our minds immediately jump to another fashion icon, Audrey Hepburn, and her ensemble in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." But truly, the introduction of the LBD, in a mainstream sense, dates back to 1926 when Coco Chanel published in Vogue a short black dress which earned the name "Chanel's Ford;" a play on words referencing the Model T and the dress's marketable versatility to women of all social classes. Vogue went onto further credit the LBD design by deeming it "a sort of uniform for women of taste." Sure hindsight is 20-20, but it is remarkable to think of how spot on Vogue's remarks were.
The LBD craze continued through the Great Depression, which is not surprising given the versatility, economic value, and overall glamour appeal; clearly making it a good bang for your buck. During war times, particularly World War II, the Little Black Dress served as a uniform for civilian women entering the workforce, which was brought on by textile rationing and the dress's commonality and evenness. Further transformation of the LBD occurred in the 1950s with the injection of Dior's "New Look" to segue into the post war age, linking female style and dress back to "sexual conservatism;" which exuded underlying tones of empowerment, danger, seduction, and femme fatale. The mod generation during the 1960s brought with it a defined separation between those that wore the miniskirt versions of the LBD, and those who aspired to look like Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." The image to the left above, features a Little Black Dress from 1964, and to the right above, is a 2013 Nicole Kidman add for Jimmy Choo, showing her sexy, seductive protagonist side in an all black number. Further transformations of the LBD ensued through to modern times; however have unfailingly upheld the principles that catapulted the Little Black Dress to a permanent elite mainstream style status in the first place.
Certainly no discussion of the little black dress is complete without circling back to Audrey Hepburn and dissecting her ensemble in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Audrey Hepburn typified the standard of the LBD when she wore the black Givenchy dress accessorized with pearls while playing the role of Holly Golightly. Between her character's classically chic style, as well as her flirty, outgoing, and infectious personality, Holly Golightly, or Audrey Hepburn, became known as the epitome of the quintessential girly girl. This look perpetuated through the 1960s and quickly became known as the "basic black look."
Since earning its esteemed status in 1926, the Little Black Dress has unrelentingly kept its mainstay in the fashion world, and continues to reign in popularity today, despite having gone through countless style variations through the decades. Regardless of your own personal style preference, the LBD without fail, has the ability to transform its wearer into a stunningly classy and glamorous woman. What's even more powerful about the Little Black Dress is that you don't have to spend a million bucks to look like a million bucks. Simply donning a LBD with pearls is enough to make heads turn your way in every direction!Please feel free to leave your comments or email me directly at 50shadesofpinkandglitter@gmail.com.
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