The little black dress has followed social cues
over the course of time as well. In the 1940’s during
the war years the little black dress took a subdued
approach with a simple, boxy and functional
silhouette with squared shoulders as a nod to military
uniforms. As the 40’s came to a close, a new silhouette
emerged inspired by Christian Dior’s iconic look,
tucked in waist with a full skirt. Dior dominated the
1950’s as well by narrowing the full skirt and creating
a sleek sheath. Celebrities like Marilyn Monroe
brought sex appeal to the LBD, proving that this
versatile dress can be both demure and alluring. But it
was starlet Audrey Hepburn who was responsible for
arguably the most famous little black dress moment
in the film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. This stunning
sheath dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy is
as recognizable and re-created today as it was in
1961. The 1960’s were an era of sex appeal and the
short and shorter hemlines reflected this. First lady
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the epitome of class,
brought more attention to the LBD and made a
statement in many different little black dress designs
throughout the 1970’s. The 1980’s were all about
excess and over the top styles and this was showcased
at the House of Chanel under the direction of Karl
Lagerfeld. Actress Elizabeth Hurley wore one of the
most shocking takes on the LBD in 1994. Designer
Gianni Versace created a bold and chic design with
a twist of 1990’s grunge; complete with a plunging
neckline and oversized gold safety pins running down
the sides. The 2000’s brought about many extremes,
from Madonna’s sheer yet buttoned up Christian
Dior ensemble in 2008 to the infamous very little
strapless black dress worn by none other than Heidi
Klum in 2010.
Probably the best thing about the little black dress is
it’s extreme versatility. This timeless piece of clothing
can be worn by anyone to almost any occasion. The
magic of the LBD is that even though the color
remains the same, it manifests itself in a wide array
of shapes and sizes. Although a little black dress is
most often associated with a cocktail dress, it can also
be a casual cotton swing dress or a luxurious beaded
evening gown. A LBD can be worn in practically
every profession, from a teacher, to a lawyer, to a stay
at home mom, to a performer. There is something
about a little black dress that makes the wearer exude
confidence. Every woman needs at least one LBD
hanging in her closet, and thank goodness, because it
will never go out of style.
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