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. 

September 2018  |   37

XX Destin Style.indd   2

8/29/18   10:51 AM