LBD APPROVED

It's a garment that every woman should own...A classic piece that transcends all time. The little black dress can carry you from day to night or from casual to glam. The LBD is fitting for most any occasion.

Here's a little history of the little black dress...

Debuting in 1926 when women primarily wore black for mourning, Coco Chanel’s little black dress revolutionized chic. For over 80 years the dress has thrived as an essential component of any stylish woman’s wardrobe. The little black dress has endured as her most timeless piece, turning women everywhere into the two things that Coco herself claimed they should be: “classy and fabulous.”

Chanel’s vision for women most radically triumphed with her little black dress. Before her own design, black had historically been worn by mourners, nuns, maids, or women of ill repute. Other designers had dabbled with the black-dress idea, but Chanel’s innovation and understanding of the modern woman created the legend. Chanel wanted functional chic—a dress that could hide stains and be worn anytime with ease and grace. She wanted to offer elegance and luxury to every woman.

A little black dress: a maddeningly simple idea. Timeless Chanel at her best—the guidelines have never changed. Above all else, the dress should make the woman look and, equally as important, feel stunning. Technically the dress should hit at the knee, flatter from every angle, translate into any occasion, and allow effortless movement. With flats and a bright scarf, the dress becomes business attire. With stilettos and a vintage clutch, black means business on a night out. Wedges and shades or an oversized hat create the perfect garden party ensemble. Perennially stylish, the dress is neither too short nor too long, too tight nor too draping, too conservative nor too revealing. Yet it is meticulously personal. The woman can freely move about her life in a dress that, created to be worn by every woman, fits perfectly only her.

Persevering through almost a century of fashion, the little black dress is here to stay. Chanel was brazen enough to look at what real women did and needed in their lives. She threw out the bad -to think: less than one century ago women wore corsets- and created an immortal piece of beauty. Deservedly, she was the only fashion designer hailed as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century. Her legend resonates because her styles redefined women’s lives forever. The little black dress isn’t simply an essential component of a fashionable wardrobe. It’s a magical piece of history, the paragon of sexy simplicity. It’s a state of mind.

Article written by Margaret Everton
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2007 issue of ELIZA Magazine and can be read here in its entirety.

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We hope this inspires you to find your perfect LBD! Happy Hunting!


Hugs & Chicness

Keelia and Tamra