Park Avenue Princess Essential: #2 – Little Black Dress

There isn’t really much anyone could debate about the LBD. In fact, it’s something that women who like every style should partake in whole-heartedly. This little dress will take you from night to day, from the office to a cocktail party and back. The PAP’s LBD (am I running with too many acronyms now?) should be cut in a timeless cut, be expensive and be something that flatters the body more than any other piece of clothing she may own. This is a piece of clothing that demands perfection- but once you’ve found it- it will be the most loyal companion you’ll ever find in your wardrobe.

So what is the Little Black Dress?

According to Wikipedia, it’s “… an evening or cocktail dress, cut simply and often with a short skirt, originally made popular in the 1920s by the fashion designer Coco Chanel. Intended by Chanel to be long-lasting, versatile, affordable, accessible to the widest market possible and in a neutral color. Its continued ubiquity is such that many refer to it by the abbreviation LBD.”

First made famous by Coco Chanel and published in Vogue in 1926, the LBD was called “a sort of uniform for women of taste” (and PAPs are nothing if not women of taste)- but the big famous dress you think of is Holly Golightly’s dress in Breakfast at Tifany’s. I think of the LBD as a piece of your wardrobe that is an investment piece- you can buy a good quality black dress and wear it for years. In fact, I have a dress that my grandma wore back in the 60′s which I wore to a formal dinner months ago. They are things that never go out of style, that you can always reach for, and in the words of Wallis Simpson: “You have to wear black, aging ot not, because when the little black dress is right, there is nothing else to wear in its place”. Great words to live by for the PAP.

I tried to come up with a list of all of the things that I love about the LBD- but could do no better than Suite 101, who had these brilliant points:

They come in a variety of shapes and designs. Long, short, pencil skirt, flared skirt, long sleeved, halter neck, boob tube, spaghetti straps, the list is endless.

Black is very very slimming. It is flattering whether you are a perfect size 6, a perfect size 20 or a perfect huge and pregnant.

Whatever the occasion it never looks out of place (as long as the sleeves and length are appropriate)

You can go from work to a funeral to a cocktail party without changing (what an emotional roller-coaster of a day that would be).

You can dress it down with thick black tights, flat shoes, a cardigan or a blazer.

You can dress it up with a flash of colour in your make-up, with extravagant jewellery, beautiful shoes or a super belt.

You can wear the same dress for a week and look different every day with the wonder of accessories.

You can have ten completely different black dresses in your wardrobe without feeling guilty.

You can look great in a little black dress whether it cost $20 or $2,000.

You know it will never go out of fashion so it is a long term investment (as long as you don’t buy one with a puffball skirt).

It can be elegant, chic, sexy, formal, relaxed, reserved, you can stand out or blend into the background.

But which dress is right for your type? Check out this gallery or take these Reader’s Digest notes with you to the store when you’re trying them on… If you’re CURVY, wear a dress that accentuates but that is modest. Try a V-neck or scoop neckline. If you’re TALL and SLIM, try a dress just like Audrey’s like a sheath or A-line.  LARGE BUSTED women should try a scoop neck, and if you have LONG LEGS, try the baby doll shape. the empire line works well on EVERYONE and especially on petities or with a stomach to conceal.

My favorite LBD comes from my work with a personal shopper at one of my favorite stores. They are generally free and the shoppers are all people that love to shop and will bring you things that will be flattering on you. Even if you don’t think something will look great, try it on,  you might be surprised. This is a great way to get the most of your time shopping and to try styles that you wouldn’t have otherwise tried… Plus, you can tell them your budget and get them to work within it.

See you next Wednesday! xoxo

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Tagged as: Dresses, LBD, PAP Essentials, Park Avenue Princess