Every Woman Needs a Little Black Dress
The little black dress has become an iconic and classic item, a must-have in every wardrobe. Did you know it wasn't always this way?
If you're looking for a classic black dress, or if you already have one in your closet (just one?), I've gathered some interesting facts to help you when searching for your next black dress for an upcoming event.
What is a little black dress? It is a simple dress with a short cut in black, typically worn as evening wear for various events. Over time, the definition has expanded to include black dresses in different lengths: black maxi dress, black midi dress, black mini dress, and black knee-length dress. According to the Oxford Dictionary, it refers to a "simple black dress for women, worn and suitable for women in most formal social situations." The dress is commonly referred to as LBD – the acronym for Little Black Dress.
What makes the little black dress special, and why is it famous?
The little black dress is famous because it can suit any time of day and almost any event, depending on the accessories and shoes paired with it. It can be worn as a dress for a special event, a black evening dress, a dress for the office, or even as an everyday dress. Additionally, the little black dress is often available at relatively low prices and comes in styles suitable for all ages.
Who invented the little black dress?
Who would have believed it? Until about a hundred years ago, the color black was not considered appropriate for everyday wear. Black clothing was reserved for mourning purposes, and wearing black for reasons other than mourning was actually considered socially improper.
Women from the aristocracy practice mourning customs in black clothes (the image is taken from here )
In 1926, Coco Chanel published a photo of a simple, short black dress in Vogue America, which reached down to the knee in a straight cut and was adorned with diagonal cuts. The writers at Vogue immediately recognized it as a classic and referred to the new design as the "Channel's Ford," likening it to the Ford Model T car.
After World War II and the sexual conservatism of the 1950s, the "New Look" emerged, which brought the little black dress back to prominence. This was the first collection released by Christian Dior since the end of the war, and it was quickly dubbed the "New Look" by American journalists from LIFE magazine. The collection was characterized by soft, feminine lines (in contrast to the sharp, masculine lines that defined the wartime period) and created an hourglass silhouette for those who wore it. The collection included form-fitting jackets at the waist and full, voluminous skirts in an elegant, glamorous style, along with numerous fashion accessories such as hats, gloves, shoes, and handbags. The use of the color black was widespread.
The "New Look" silhouette, 1940s, Christian Dior
A few years later, the little black dress became popular when Audrey Hepburn wore it in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's. The little black dress was simple and accessible to women of all social classes, and Vogue predicted it would become "a kind of uniform for all women and all styles." Hollywood also played a role in the adoption of the little black dress. With the use of Technicolor, the black dress looked better on screen than dresses in other colors.
Black dress for an event: Audrey Hepburn wearing the little black dress that became a legend in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1961.
The black dress today
If you thought black dresses have always been an integral part of a woman's wardrobe, the little black dress as we know it today has actually existed for less than a hundred years. The black dress has become a classic must-have item in our wardrobes — we wear it for a wide variety of events: as an everyday dress, an office dress, and of course, as a special event dress or black evening dress — all depending on the accessories added and the shoes chosen. When we look for a black dress for an event, we know it will serve us for many years to come, so we're willing to invest a little more to have a classic and unique dress that will suit us for various occasions.
Black evening dress in various designs and variations – a dress for everyday wear, for the office, or for an event, from here
And finally: 1 minute and 35 seconds of the little black dress:
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