The beginning of the 20s of the last century was the heyday of emancipation. Working independent women wanted to dress more practically, so they began to choose bold and comfortable styles. The little black dress, which came at the right time, thanks to the unforgettable Coco Chanel, was to the liking of many of them. Simple and elegant, it has transformed over time, but has not lost its popularity. Today, the item is not only present on the fashion agenda, but has long been considered a cult item in the women's wardrobe. The advantages of the little black dress are undeniable - it makes you look slimmer, allows you to harmoniously intertwine daytime and evening looks, and is an ideal basis for the boldest experiments with accessories and shoes.
History of creation
The black dress became a revolution in the world of fashion. Thanks to Coco Chanel, it ascended to the fashion pedestal and today, when its age has exceeded the mark of 90 years, it is not going to leave it. According to one version, Mademoiselle Chanel, going to the ball at the Grand Opera, was not just surprised by the diversity of women's clothing - it caused her indignation. She was amazed at how pompous outfits disfigure the ladies, and firmly decided to change them into black. According to the second version, the famous Coco created this dress after the tragic death of her lover. Since he was married to another, Gabrielle Chanel could not honor his memory by dressing in mourning. This prompted her to sew a black ascetic dress.
It is generally accepted that Coco's legendary dress was inspired by the black, deaf outfits of the nuns who looked after children in the orphanage where the Frenchwoman spent her childhood.
Not everyone was ready for such radical changes – only having started to get used to midi and having stopped considering the length shameful, women were not ready to give up rich trimmings right away. Modest attire was considered the lot of the poor. Not knowing what to wear with a short black dress, fashionistas called it too simple, “orphan”. Nevertheless, little by little the innovation gained popularity.
Initially, the dress had a simple cut without decorative details. It was assumed that due to its laconicism it would be easy to combine with any accessories. But gradually the cut was transformed: from Gatsby-style models to tight-fitting styles and bustiers with a full skirt. Chanel's idea was picked up by other designers. The little black dress from Dior became the calling card of the fashion house. Audrey Hepburn's appearance on screen, dressed in a Givenchy model in the film "Breakfast at Tiffany's", caused a furor. Many Hollywood stars today prefer this outfit to all others on the red carpet.
The secret of popularity is simple: a black dress emphasizes feminine features, gives the image elegance and sexuality at the same time, not overshadowing, but complementing the appearance. Moreover, it is appropriate in any circumstances.
Features and Benefits
Every woman should have a dress like this in her wardrobe. The item is extremely versatile: one model, complemented with different accessories, can be worn to work, a date, a walk, to the theater - it is suitable for any occasion. This outfit is acceptable not only for young, slender girls, but also for plump ladies, including those of Balzac age. Of course, you need to choose the cut that will highlight your advantages, reliably hiding your flaws.
Midi, long sleeves, round neckline – this is the style of the classic little black dress designed by Coco Chanel. Over time, the cut has undergone significant changes. From year to year, all sorts of variations based on the basic model and outfits that are radically different in length, material, and decor appear on fashion catwalks. Modern black dresses sometimes lose their laconic design, complemented by lace, ruffles, transparent or colored textured inserts, collars, peplums, and embroidery.
How to choose depending on your body type
Thanks to the design features, the dress is able to hide flaws, focusing attention on the most attractive curves of the body:
- Hourglass. With this type of figure, you can choose any cut. The most advantageous models are those with a tight silhouette, fitted with a flared hem.
- Pear. It is characterized by a “heavy” lower body, so it needs to be hidden by a skirt that flares out at the bottom or by folds of fabric.
- Apple. A trapezoid cut or a high-waisted style will help hide a protruding belly.
- Inverted triangle. Stands out with powerful shoulders and narrow hips. To balance the proportions, you need to choose a dress with wide straps or an asymmetrical neckline, a full skirt. American armholes are contraindicated.
- Rectangle. If there is no waist, it needs to be formed or attention needs to be diverted from this area. Loose cuts with drapes, fitted models with frills, ruffles at the top and bottom, and a thin belt are suitable.
If you have excess weight, you should pay special attention to the material. A plus size little black dress should not be made of satin or velvet, as these fabrics visually increase volume. You can choose a tight-fitting style, but the dense fabric should not cling to the figure. A sheath dress looks impressive. Models with a flared hem and a tight bodice can be complemented with a thin belt or drawstring.
Popular models
Traditional styles remain popular today. Over the almost century-long history of the legendary model, four main cut options have emerged:
- A knee-length black triangle dress is a classic “three holes” style. A straight or slightly trapezoidal sleeveless (or ¾) knee-length dress is called so by the number of holes – for the head and arms. It suits women with ideal shoulder shape and hides such flaws as full hips, a small protruding tummy. A little black crochet dress looks very original in this style.
- Fitted with ¾ sleeves, straight cut, just above the knees - the most versatile model. It is ideal for work, walks, and can be combined with clothes of various styles. Due to the fact that the dress is very tight-fitting, it should not be worn by women with less than ideal proportions.
- Flared – has a hem that flares from the waist. It looks great on women with a fragile top and slender legs. Due to the wide skirt, it hides full hips and buttocks.
- Wrap-around – suits almost everyone, but is especially elegant for an hourglass figure.
Thanks to the variability of the cut, the combination of all sorts of materials and the excellent compatibility with accessories, beautiful black dresses look great as office and evening wear, a romantic option for clothing, and also as the basis for a casual look. The most popular variations of the model:
- With a collar. This detail, especially made in the form of a yoke, distracts attention from the too powerful upper part of the body, focusing the eyes on the décolleté area. A dress with a white turtleneck looks formal and strict. In such an outfit you can go to work in the office. The classic model is a business black dress with short sleeves, a white collar and cuffs.
- With sleeves. Today, traditional narrow sleeves made of the same fabric as Mademoiselle Coco created them are too simple. Firstly, the length varies: they can be shortened, three-quarters, reach the elbow or barely cover the shoulder. Secondly, they are often sewn from fabrics of varying density and texture. Variants made of translucent lightweight materials, lace, and guipure are popular. And finally, their cut has become more diverse: you can find interesting photos of a little black dress with midi-length “lanterns”, puffs or long narrow sleeves, but with open shoulders.
- On straps. One of the best options for a romantic date or an evening out. To avoid the image being vulgar, it is necessary to follow the rule: the more open the shoulders and décolleté area, the longer the hem should be. For example, for a bustier, the recommended length is no higher than the knee. The cut is selected according to the figure. For the office, a case on wide straps made of opaque fabric is suitable.
- Knitted. This fabric is mainly used to sew long and short black dresses for everyday wear. The material's special feature is its high degree of fit. Therefore, models tailored to the figure emphasize both its advantages and disadvantages. A wide belt with a buckle is used as an addition.
- Leather. A dress made of this material looks somewhat aggressive and, being tight-fitting, emphasizes all the curves and folds. Both genuine leather and leatherette are used for sewing. It is recommended to wear a leather dress in cool weather, since it does not let air through. In fashion collections, little black dresses made of this material are at the peak of popularity.
- Lace. Emphasizes femininity, helping to create a sexy image. Evening dresses can have lace inserts through which the body shines through, more discreet options - with a lining of black or contrasting opaque fabric.
Knitted models will especially appeal to fans of boho and casual styles. From fashion magazines with patterns, you can learn how to crochet a little black dress. For example, it can consist of separate motifs knitted together - even a beginner can handle such a model.
How to complete the look
In order for the look to look harmonious and stylish, you need to choose the right accessories, shoes, makeup, clothes. It is the details that determine the style of the image. Despite the considerable freedom of choice, there are unspoken fashion rules on what to combine a little black dress with and what combinations should be avoided.
Accessories and handbag
Accessories are bright colors, with the help of which not only it is possible, but also necessary to enhance the "magic" of a black dress. A classic version of a handbag is a quilted clutch or a small model on a chain - a short evening dress in black will look as harmonious as possible in combination with this accessory. This is the addition recommended by Coco Chanel. You can choose other options, but the model should have a clear shape and elegant texture. For example, a strict briefcase is suitable for the office.
As for jewelry, the rule is: the shorter the dress, the more elegant it should be. When creating a classic look, it is recommended to complement the outfit with a string of pearls. Gold and silver jewelry with diamonds or other precious stones will also work. When choosing how to decorate an evening black dress, it is worth paying attention to large jewelry. Wide bracelets, pearl beads in several rows, elongated earrings will effectively complement the outfit. In the office version of the look, the necklace should be replaced with a scarf or chain.
When choosing jewelry for a dress, it is necessary to adhere to the principles of moderation and compatibility of accessories.
Outerwear
There are no clear instructions from stylists on what outerwear to combine with a little black dress - the item is universal and harmonizes with almost any wardrobe item. Much, of course, depends on the specific style. Cropped jackets and boleros look great with tight-fitting everyday models. If the dress has long sleeves, you can complement the look with a cape coat or a fur vest. A loose-fitting outfit looks stylish with an elongated jacket.
The fitted model is best worn with a jacket or trench coat. A black sleeveless evening dress is worn with a lace cape. The model with sleeves does not need any additions. Dresses with ruffles and flounces look good with double-breasted coats. It is not forbidden to wear them with a leather jacket, but in this case you need to support the ensemble with appropriate style additions.
Little black dresses for women aged 50 are recommended to be combined with a soft cardigan or an elongated jacket. The optimal model is a sheath dress. Young girls are freer in choosing accessories to the outfit, they can wear it with voluminous knitted or jersey sweaters, oversized sweaters.
Shoes
Black evening dresses look even more perfect when paired with closed high-heeled pumps. Such shoes, especially richly decorated with sequins or rhinestones, are chosen for a gala evening. If your feet get tired, it is recommended to choose a version with a small and stable heel. In the warm season, sandals are worn with the dress, but without tights.
Thick black tights are not suitable for a short black dress; they should not be thicker than 20 den. But brown stockings can be much thicker – up to 60 den.
You can choose not only black shoes. This color harmonizes perfectly with golden and pastel shades, red tone. Scarlet shoes are ideal for going to the theater or an evening walk. For the office, black or beige pumps are optimal - but it is better to give preference to a low or medium heel. Alternatively, you can wear ballet flats.
When choosing a little black dress for the summer, it is worth choosing elegant sandals for it. Gladiator sandals with high heels look exquisite. A grunge look will be obtained by combining a black dress with a leather jacket and lace-up boots. But only young girls can afford to dress like this, older ladies should choose comfortable shoes with low heels. In winter, the dress can be worn with boots, half boots or ankle boots, and high heels are not at all necessary, the combination with black and colored loafers, oxfords looks stylish.
If the boots reach to the knees or higher, the hem of the dress should not cover the tops of the boots.
Makeup and manicure
Stylists insist that the effectiveness of a black dress decreases significantly without makeup. At least minimal makeup is necessary. Bright (preferably red) lipstick, eye makeup with 50s-style arrows and thickly painted eyelashes will perfectly complement the image. For the office, you need to choose calmer shades, for example, nude. Manicure is preferable in black and red or black and white tones. A single-color blood-red varnish also goes great with the outfit.
In makeup, it is recommended to place only one accent - on the eyes or lips.
The deliberately simple dress, created by a Frenchwoman in 1926 and becoming a symbol of independence and sexuality, is reborn every season in the works of world fashion houses: Versace, Valentino, Christopher Kane, Givenchy, Alexander Wang... And even 90 years after its creation, “its philosophy” remains the same – an unwillingness to follow momentary trends.
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