From Mourning To Morning – LBDs of the Season

*featured image by @malwinawedzikowska*

Little Black Dresses. They’re classic, elegant and seamless in appearance. Characterised by their short and clean-cut silhouette, they flatter the female form without going overboard. Their versatility means they can be worn for both daytime and evening, or more or less any occasion.

The origin of the little black dress emerged in the 20s when Coco Chanel and Jean Patou – 2 of Paris’ greatest fashion houses pioneered it into the mainstream. Chanel allegedly wanted to divorce the idea of wearing black from its 19th century connotations, when it was worn as a visual representation of mourning. Chanel wanted to bring the luxury aspect back into the colour, similar to how it was used in the 16th century among rich Spaniards. Popularised by its accessibility and affordability, in time the LBD appealed to a broader diverse market. Women of all social classes could have it.

The LBD returned to fashion in the 50s, following into the 60s with the rising acknowledgment of female sexuality. It surfaced again in the 80s as the staple uniform of workwear (which embodied the key trends at the time – broad shoulders and peplum waists). An LBD revival was seen in the 90s, with ‘It’ Girls parading around in A-line minis and combat boots, encapsulating the Grunge culture at the time.

LBDs frequently pop up in pop-culture, the most iconic moment being Audrey Hepburn in ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s‘, who looks ultra chic in a classic Givenchy design. But there’s many more times LBDs have taken centre stage. Betty Boop is renown for her super sexy wiggle dress, which was originally in black until Technicolor hit our screens, creating the chilli red we know her to wear. Additionally, in Hollywood film, black dresses were staples of femme fatales wardrobes, synchronising with their feminine fierceness and ability to be independent, charming and outright bad-ass. 4 decades later, Princess Diana was seen wearing a Christina Stambolian off-the-shoulder style with an asymmetrical hem in a ruched material. Her ensemble featured a statement pearl choker, low-denier tights and pointed-toe pumps. Taking into consideration her royal status, needless to say, it looked sophisticated

My favourite thing about LBDs is its colour – an impenetrable black free from prints and distractions. It keeps the garment plain and simple, yet so stunning and easy to wear. What I also like about them is the fact they’re not limited to a specific age group. For children, skater styles would be comfortable and a great option. For older teens and adult women, more or less any style would work, depending on the occasion. For elder women, if you’re choosing to be modest (you don’t have to be), hark back to Chanel‘s original design with the longer knee or calf length, and boat neckline . LBDs can also be styled with any shoe choice and boot length; the little black dress is universal.

This season’s trend – poplin styles, puff sleeves and billowing shoulders, rocked with a pair of cowgirl boots. You can, however, keep it traditional with a simple bodycon fit and chunky sneakers for running errands throughout the day. Just throw on a pea coat, sheer tights and your go-to stiletto pumps for date-nights and evening functions.

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Needless to say, the highly-loved style has definitely been modernised. Lengths have shortened, because the need to dress conservative is no longer necessary.

Words By Charis Crawford CORRI – FASHION DIRECTOR

*Disclaimer – All images within this article are sourced from Google. Ragged Culture Publishing Ltd. does not own copyright of images featured in this article. All rights reserved*