Long live the LBD By Becky Lyon

 

  In a social, cultural and design revolution, Chanel modernised women’s wardrobes with her new approach to fashion. Taking inspiration from practical menswear shapes and clean, linear silhouettes, she devised the dress code for emancipated women freeing them for restricting corsets and ‘unnecessary’ finery.

 

 

 The scandalous LBD was unleashed in 1926 and was revolutionary in two senses. Firstly, it was black; a colour that had up until now only been associated with mourning and wickedness (it is this that is said to have enhanced its provocative appeal.) In the second sense, the straight, tubular shape of the dress was a total rejection of conventional, voluptuous woman hood and adopted an androgynous, almost child-like stance. It introduced the notion that a garment could be versatile, comfortable and practical with no loss of elegance. It was also the start of ‘mass-market’, democratic fashion. Vogue predicted it would become a ‘uniform for women of all tastes’.

 

{mosimage}

 

 The LBD is now less of a design and more of an institution, standing as a symbol of the liberated woman and modern fashion.  The LBD stands for a never-fail, feel good garment that embodies timeless elegance and is a fashion trophy that every woman aspires to have. The little black dress has never gone out of fashion echoing Chanel’s observation that ‘fashion fades but style remains’.

 

 

 It has been constantly re-invented through the decades and formed iconic fashion imagery from Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s to Princess Diana, Lollabrigada in La Dolce Vita to Elizabeth Hurley in ‘that dress’.

 

 The legacy doesn’t stop there as the autumn/ winter runways give a nod to this historical landmark with a host of Little Black Dresses for everyone. We select a fail-safe for every occasion……

 

{mosimage}

 

 

1. The Classic LBD

Designers re-created the classic LBD look in a multitude of basic shift shapes perfect for accessorising with an individual touch…

 

 

 

{mosimage}

 

2. The Romantic LBD

Romance was in the air as the LBD got decked with frills and frivolity in soft, feminine shapes with a vintage edge…

 

 

 

 

 

{mosimage}

 

3. The Sexy LBD

‘Sexy’ never means ‘slutty’ when it comes to the Little Black Dress and the likes of Preen and Givenchy re-created sophisticated sexy forms…

 

 

 

 

{mosimage}

 

4. The Feminine LBD

Basic LBD’s were given an extra feminine touch with sweet-heart necklines and cute puffball skirt shapes…

 

 

 

{mosimage}

 

5. The Casual LBD

For the woman who just doesn’t work the cocktail dress, the likes of Prada and Karen Walker dressed-down the concept in a casual format….

 

 

 

 

By Becky Lyon becky.lyon@hotmail.co.uk