The Little Black Dress: A review of a Classic

THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS.
Trends come and go, but for 90 years the little black dress has remained a powerful Fashion Icon, a constant on the catwalk, red carpet and in many womens' wardrobes. Wallis Simpson, The Dutches of Windsor famously said in its praise, "when the little black dress is right, there is nothing else to wear in its place." The little black dress is the chamelon of the fashion world.

Be it the safe choice, the rebellious statement, sexy or demure, the little black dress is both chic and armour within the fashion world and has never skipped a beat. Vogue stated in 1939 the simple little black dress is that made of all work, transforming itself for any occasion. The appeal of Little black dress is in equal measures its versatility and timeless glamour linked to women such as Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Hurley.

HISTORY OF LITTLE BLACK DRESS
In 1926 Coco Chanel showcased a simple Black Jersey dress in American vogue, which she described as the new uniform of modern women. Vogue nicknamed the dress the Chanel Ford. From this point on the concept of the little black dress- versatile, sophisticated and progressive was planted firmly in the public immagination. The popularity of the little black dress remained more or less constant throughout the 20th century. The 1950 and 1960 were its heyday, owing in part to the postwar boom in cocktail parties. The 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's transformed the LBD into a style icon, so that by 1965 vogue awarded it the accolade of contemporary classic- authentic and ageless.
Today...It is still strong as it is placed in sought after and religously followed aspects of the fashion world such as Style God Tim Gunn's list of things a woman must have in her closet.

THE CHALLENGE
For contemporary designers...the constant objective was and is to update the black dress, season after season while allowing it to have the classic charm that made it a staple in the first place. In the 20th century, the black dress can be as progressive and revolutionary as it was in its Chanel beginnings.The Fashion and Textile Museum in UK invited over 20 of Britains leading designers to show their ideas of the perfect black dress. Constrained by color, designers experimented with texture, form, drape and silhouette while revamping the classic. As Catherine Walker says, the little black dress is the perfect canvas for pure line and form. The little black dress has the power to make all women feel special, sexy and sleek within its fabric. Further, the little black dress is an incredible and indespensable standard for many women within and during personal events such as moments of seduction, revenge, and unforgettable occasions are for many women a representation of black dress.

Improvements in manufacturing standards for ready to wear clothes and their introduction of new synthetic fibers, has both broadened the availability and affordability of the little black dress; allowing it to represent glamour accessible to women regardless of age, class or income. A constant essential piece in every womens wardrobe, the importance of the black dress is as universal, undeniable and strong as the woman who created it so long ago.--------------------

Tapti Tapan, Designer and Contributor