Posts tagged "Little Black Dress"

Little Black Dress – How to Look Stunning With This Timeless Classic

Every woman needs at least one little black dress!
It’s the one garment you can always rely on when you are undecided what to wear. If you have the right dress, you can simply add some accessorizes for a chic and stunning look.
Let’s look at what makes the perfect little black dress and how you can wear it for maximum impact.
The height of fashion since 1926
Coco Chanel introduced the little black dress in 1926 and it has become the symbol of timeless fashion. A fashion must for every women, the appeal of the little black dress has never waned.
Other trends and fashions come and go, but you will always be the height of chic with the little black dress.
Here are five tips to look chic for that special evening
1. Identify your key assets and show them off! You can highlight your back, shoulders arms breasts and legs. Pick a style that shows of your key assets
2. Choose a dress that’s comfortable and fits well. Your little black dress should allow you to move, suit walk or dance comfortably. A knee-ish length (just above, or below) sleeveless sheath is a safe style to buy that always looks great.
3. Choose a well-constructed dress generally light wool or silk crepe with a lining are good and comfortable. The lining has the advantage of smoothing your figure to give the impression of a perfect fit.
4. Use the 3-1 ratio’ to really standout – Three parts conservative but use one for a daring touch. A daring touch would be something like, a low cut back, a daring plunging neckline, or a deep slit in the side. Always remember to keep legs bare or in very sheer hose for the classiest look.
5. Accessorize your little black dress to really set off your look. A standout bracelet, a choker, or killer heels with a slim matching bag to add the final touch.
Versatility
A Little Black Dress is great for work as well as evening wear. Wearing your dress with a blazer or sweater and some knee length boots is a great look for work or an interview.
Your dress can also go on holiday with you and will be perfect for a stunning look quickly. Be sure to choose a material that resists wrinkles and dries quickly and you are ready for any fashion emergency.
Before Coco Chanel made it a fashion color, black was associated with mourning and death.
The great thing about the little black dress is that it doesn’t draw attention to itself and looks completely different on different people.
The little black dress is and will remain a timeless classic, so make sure you use it to its full potential.

How to Make the Most of Wearing a Little Black Dress

What is it about the THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS that makes it so iconic?  It seems that according to market research every woman needs one and most women have one.  I for one don’t!  Black doesn’t suit me, not that this has stopped many other women.  A small part of me would love a little black cocktail dress and I have thought long and hard about why that is.  Even if you decide that you must have a black dress, there are so many variations on that theme. 

Traditionally black is “slimming”.  This is questionable.  Trinny and Suzannah did an experiment of sorts with boxes on the television recently and generally black was considered a “heavier” colour.  All darker colours can be “slimming”, not necessarily black and using different colours together can have a greater effect.

There is something glamorous and sexy about a black dress.  Perhaps it seems mysterious or superior.  Certainly women who suit black do look incredibly chic dressed in a black dress. 

Black is considered smart.  Yes, this is true but there are many other less harsh colours that are also very smart.  Charcoal grey or Pewter are examples.

Black is available.  This to me is the single most important factor.  During the winter months, particularly running up to Christmas, the shops are full of black dresses.  No wonder we are all tempted into them.

But look around and you will find some other beautiful, jewel like colours to wear to all those Christmas parties.  Purple, Jade, Scarlet.  They are all out there and just think how you will stand out from the crowd.

If however, I cannot persuade you to change your mind, please consider the following tips to look your very best in black. 

If you have pale hair, skin and eyes, black will swamp you but by keeping it away from your face and choose a chiffon or lace fabric teamed with jewellery in a lighter colour, you can look fabulous.  You may need to apply a little more make-up than usual, again using an eye pencil in a flattering colour.

If you have dark hair and eyes then the world is your oyster as far as black goes.  Go on, you are in the minority who look great in black from head to foot.

If you have red or auburn hair, black will be very harsh on your skin.  Try to wear a lower cut dress and team it with a warm coloured scarf or jewellery.  Terracotta or salmon pink could look great.  Again, think about the fabric.  Soft or textured fabrics will absorb the light and be more flattering.

If you have grey or ash blonde hair, you can wear black more comfortably than many other women, but it is better to keep it away from your face.  If the neckline is too high it can make your chin shadowy.  Team your black dress with a lavender bolero or corsage and jewellery.

So it would seem that to a certain degree, we can all get away with wearing that Little Black Dress.  Just remember to use the style, fabric and colourful accessories to “customise” your black dress and make it perfect for you.

Your sexy little black dress. A style consultantâ??s guide to getting the best from it. Itâ??s not just for parties

A well-cut little black dress is every womanâ??s best friend and an essential basic item in her wardrobe.   As a style consultant, Iâ??ve been asked by women if they should flaunt in it, or use it for concealment.  Your body shape, personality and confidence all play a part in this decision.  Classic and timelessly sexy it is a very sensual choice for a woman as well as being a very good investment.  Although synonymous with the party season, a little black dress can be dressed up or down according to the occasion and should not only be brought out for Christmas parties.  There are many styles available to buy depending on your budget, current fashion trends and of course, your body shape.  With good legs you can go short, even very short, but thatâ??s not for everyone.  If you are confident showing your cleavage, then you can dare to bare as much as you like.

With a little bit of ingenuity and know-how, any woman can get the most wear out of a versatile black dress â?? more so than any other colour simply by accessorising effectively and by mixing and matching with different jackets, pashminas and blouses.

To successfully achieve several different sexy and fashionable looks for your little black dress which will suit a variety of occasions, you must first choose a basic design that flatters your body shape.  Keeping it simple is the key.

The fabric of your dress is an important factor.  Wool crepe, for example, would make a great business suite but would look rather flat at a party where you want to attract attention.  Soft silk or velvet will add sparkle as the light plays across the fabric flattering its fall and flow.  Lace however, lets the skin peep through, giving a flirtatious touch to an outfit and softening the black effect.

By accessorising the neckline of your dress you can give it your own personality.  A pashmina can help soften the lines of your dress whilst glitter will give added sparkle.  If you have a long neck but small chest you can, within reason, accessorise with as much jewellery as you wish whereas those with a shorter neck should avoid too much jewellery opting instead for a simple but elegant long chain to create a flattering v-shaped elongated neckline. By careful choice, perhaps with help from a style consultant, you can make your little black dress a fashion statement for any occasion whether it is smart for daywear, sexy at night or fun for parties.  Enjoy!

The Little Black Dress

Every woman looks good when wearing it, and every woman has at least one little black dress. The little black dress is so popular, so necessary, and so much an institution in women’s fashion that we must wonder, how did the little black dress originate? To understand how the famous little black dress came about, we have to go back in time to the early 1920s. It was during this period in time that women cut their hair and had the desire to wear more revealing fashions while engaging in a fast paced party lifestyle. Women of the 1920s era were usually on thin side and really didn’t need fashions that made them look any smaller. It was during this time period that the now legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel first created and placed the Chanel name on the first little black dress. Coco Chanel’s designs are often considered to be the standard of the early twenties in womens fashions because her work was so modern and futuristic. The womens fashions we typically think of when we envision the flapper era were inspied and encouraged by this famous designer. Chanel was fond of working with neutral colors and soft easy to wear jersey fabrics that were simple in shape and cut. Chanel was able to place comfort and sophistication into the womens fashions she created, and this combination became what is considered by many as revolutionary. It was during her early years, that she designed and introduced the first little black dress to the world of womens fashion with huge success. First introduced in 1926, wearing black was previously considered to be a color reserved mostly for funerals and periods of mourning. Truly simple and sexy, Chanel’s first little black dress design was a sleeveless sheath cut just above the knee. She never dreamed of the huge demand and lasting love women would have for her simple yet elegant little black dress. Coco Chanel was once quoted as saying, luxury fashions must be comfortable, otherwise the creation is not luxury. The little black dress whether it costs fifty dollars or thousands is designed to look effortlessly make a woman look elegantly sexy in just minutes. While most of us cannot afford to buy Chanel’s designer dresses, we can certainly wear our little black dresses with the modern, sophistication she possessed when she designed the classic, little black dress.