Ever girl I know has a go to little black dress in their closet. It is a look that you can wear to a business dinner and still look fashionable at the after party. Most of the women I know today find it hard to not wear black. Hell, I have to ruffle through what it feels like mountains of black leggings every morning. The LBD provides a sleek timeless look for every women for every occasion.
If a women was not mourning the death of her husband it was indecent to wear black at all. Before the 1920’s black was reserved for periods of mourning, not cocktail hour. It was considered indecent for a woman to wear a black dress outside of dreary circumstances. During the Victorian ages, a widow was expected to wear a black dress for at least two years after her husband’s passing. There were several stages of dress during the two year period. The first year and a day the mourning widow was required to wear all black with absolutely no decoration. The second stage included nine months of wearing black silk. For the remainder of the time the women could wear dark neutral shades and often tints of purple.
In 1962 Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel published a picture of a short, simple, black dress in Vogue. The little black dress was simple and economical for all women of various social classes. Coco Chanel introduced the LBD during a time when bright colors and heavy prints were taking over the fashion market. She renamed the black dress the “Ford” of fashion mirroring it’s simplicity and long-lasting success. Chanel’s little black dress became a symbol of chic and sophisticated simplicity leaving the symbols of death and mourning behind.
Audrey Hepburn took the LBD to the next level in the opening of the 1961 romantic comedy film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The dress is considered to be one of the most iconic of the 20th century and film history. Hepburn made the little black dress a fashion staple with her elegance and beauty. In 2010 a survey conducted that her LBD look as the best dress ever worn by a woman in a film.
“Only fashion fades, only style remains the same.” Said Coco Chanel. She is right when it comes to the little black dress iconic look. Black will always be the new black and the LBD will always be in style. It’s a classic wardrobe statement piece that will remain elegant for years to come. Women have been fussing over the little black dress since the sixties and it is here to stay. The little black dress represents beauty and independence.
