A perfect little black dress can give your appearance an instantly glamorous edge and sophistication, making an impressionful first impression wherever it’s worn. Plus, its versatility means it can be styled to suit the occasion with various accessories and shoes!
Chanel introduced her iconic little black dress during a period of great change in fashion, providing women with an affordable way to maintain elegance without breaking their budgets.
The origins of the little black dress
Origins of the little black dress — more commonly referred to as an LBD — can be traced back to Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel in the 1920s. She pioneered women’s fashion by publishing in American Vogue an image of an LBD designed by Gabrielle Coco with simple calf-length lines on it; Chanel predicted that it would become “uniform for all women of taste” — which it did exactly that!
The little black dress was not only an emblem of elegance, but also practical and affordable for working women. Its popularity endured throughout the Great Depression; Hollywood used Technicolor films that required actors wear black dresses so as not to appear distorted on screen, further driving its popularity.
The little black dress has long been used as an emotive tool, from religious devotion and perversion, to respect and rebellion. Audrey Hepburn used a Givenchy black dress in Funny Face and Celine dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s to portray glamorous but subversive Beatniks – such as Audrey herself! – so the garment became an effective representation of Beatnik generation style while providing intellectuals an elegant way of rejecting convention while still enjoying high fashion.
The evolution of the little black dress
Since Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel first published an LBD image in American Vogue in 1926, its iconic status has grown rapidly. Thanks to its ability to adapt with changing times while remaining timeless and adaptable enough for women of all backgrounds to wear for decades on end.
Before the 1920s, wearing black was usually reserved for funerals and other ceremonies associated with funerals or mourning; any other use was seen as inappropriate and deviant behavior. But that all changed when John Singer Sargent painted Madame X’s portrait wearing an elegant yet simple black dress which caused an uproar as many found her attire provocative and seductive.
During the Great Depression, women turned to the little black dress (LBD) as a symbol of economic freedom as it allowed them to express their personal styles modestly and affordably. It continued its rise during World War II due to textile rationing; additionally it served as uniform attire for civilian women entering wartime labor forces.
Christian Dior’s New Look brought back into fashion a timeless symbol of elegance and class: the little black dress. Celebrities and supermodels started wearing it during the 1990s; today, this classic garment continues to evolve in response to shifting societal norms and demands.
The little black dress as a symbol
In an ever-evolving world of fashion trends, the little black dress remains a timeless classic and a symbol of personal style. Over its history it has changed with each generation, adopting new silhouettes to reflect changing social attitudes. Clara Bow’s iconic screen persona associated it with LBDs while in 1960s youth culture adopted them alongside mod fashion with Audrey Hepburn famously wearing sheath black dresses to the Breakfast at Tiffany’s film.
Coco Chanel was driven to create the little black dress by her desire to redefine women’s roles in society, particularly what it meant to be female. Born into poverty-stricken surroundings to an itinerant market trader and his unmarried wife, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel set out on an extraordinary quest to transcend her current existence by projecting an image that exuded luxury, decadence and sophistication – creating something iconic which became known worldwide: the little black dress.
The little black dress remains an iconic fashion symbol today, evoking political statements through designs created by designers and artists alike. A recent exhibition at London’s V&A museum brought to public attention the dress designed by climate activists VIN + OMI with the word ‘RESIST’ written into its fabric.
The little black dress as a fashion icon
The little black dress has long been associated with elegance, simplicity, and style – it has become an essential wardrobe item for women of all ages and celebrities such as actress Jennifer Aniston or Madonna have worn one to formal events or cocktail hours. Businesswomen frequently opt for this timeless piece when attending formal functions or cocktail hours.
Since 1858, the dress has been an indispensable fashion element. First made popular during the Roaring Twenties by flapper outfitter Pauline Barochet; Coco Chanel later popularized it further when she created her iconic sketch of it for Vogue magazine and cemented its place as an essential wardrobe piece and fashion icon.
Cristobal Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent were widely respected designers renowned for creating elegant yet simple little black dresses that were versatile enough to endure changing fashion trends.
A new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art explores the evolution of the little black dress from its origins in mourning and funeralwear to becoming an essential component of women’s wardrobes today. Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Schiaparelli all had designs featured, while former First Lady Michelle Obama even wore one by Cushnie et Ochs to one of her favorite awards shows in 2017.