Little Black Dresses
If
there’s one fashion that’s kept a prominent place in women’s wardrobes the world over through the years,
it’s the Little Black Dress. The LBD, as some call it, is that perfect complimentary wardrobe piece that
can dress up or down depending on the event you’re about to attend. It looks perfect with high heels
or casual flats, and you can pair it with jewellery and accessories or let it stand on its own. No matter
what, making sure you have at least one Little Black Dress in your wardrobe means you’ll always be ready
for a special occasion, no matter what or where it happens to be.
HOW LITTLE IS
TOO LITTLE?
There are a few important observations to make when looking out for the
perfect Little Black Dress, and paying attention to the length of the skirt is only the first of many.
Since Little Black Dresses come in so many versatile colors and sizes, choosing the one that’s best for
you will include a careful look at how much leg you’re comfortable revealing. For younger women in their
late teens and early twenties, high miniskirts are acceptable and show off youthful, toned legs – but
as you get older and start in your professional life, a more appropriate length will see your Little
Black Dress’ hem falling nearer to the knee. For more mature women who need a Little Black Dresses to
wear to professional or formal occasions, a little black dress can cut across just above or below the
knee. This is the lower limit of a hem for a Little Black Dress, however, as much farther down and you’ll
be wearing a full gown!
COLORS AND DESIGNS
Just because a Little
Black Dress has that title doesn’t mean it can’t include colors, patterns or highlights that bring out
the detail of the piece. You can see examples of some tremendously interesting Little Black Dresses from
designers like Manderlay, Scala and Tony Bowls by checking through the listings in our catalogue, below,
and you’ll see that many of these designers use color to make their Little Black Dresses even more glamorous.
Given this, it’s particularly important to pay attention to the way that your Little Black Dress uses
(or doesn’t use) color, since one of the most important things you can do when accessorizing is making
sure you pick shades that help you pop. If your dress has a number of color tones on it, then always
be careful about matching those colors to your eyes, shoes and makeup.
OCCASIONS
TO WEAR YOUR LBD
Almost any occasion can be appropriate for a Little Black Dress,
with the exception of those events judged too formal for showing off your legs. Otherwise, wear your
dress to club nights, parents’ conferences and cocktail parties, business dinners, holiday soirees, or
out on the town. As long as you take care to put together the rest of your appearance, you’ll find that
planning on wearing Little Black Dresses to these and other occasions will help you cut down on your
preparation and decision-making time when it comes to putting together your outfits.
HOW
TO WEAR YOUR HAIR
Hairstyles to pair with Little Black Dresses are almost as numerous
as the designs of the frocks themselves, but making sure that you add the right hair look to the perfect
dress can be tricky. If you’re not comfortable throwing yourself at the mercy of a talented hairdresser
– to whom you should always bring a photograph of yourself in the dress, even if it’s just a quick snapshot
on your cell phone – then you can make a few suggestions based on the types of dress you choose to wear.
If your dress is on the formal side, then wearing a sleek updo that holds your hair carefully in place
can be a wonderful way to make sure your style doesn’t change without your knowledge over the course
of an evening. However, if you’re on the younger side or are wearing an exceedingly trendy or modern
look, for example the Relaxed Party Dress with Crystal Studded Neckline by Scala, or the Contrast Pink
& Black Party Dress with Rosette by Tony Bowls Shorts, then you can look into wearing long hair down
and loose, either straightened or – as is more in fashion today – in curls.
Ultimately,
the kind of Little Black Dresses that fill your closet should be chosen on a basis of what looks best
on you, and what makes you feel most confident about your own appearance. This is a piece of your wardrobe
which can be adjusted to fit the times, if purchased with a desire for timelessness in mind, but can
also be as up to the minute as the latest Parisian catwalk show. Almost every designer has some version
of a Little Black Dress in their collection, so it’s simply a matter of taking your time and looking
until you find the Little Black Dress that’s right for you!