The Quintessential Fashion Must Have – 5 Unforgettable Looks With The Little Black Dress

Widely considered a fashion essential, the little black dress is lauded for its versatility and simplicity as a perfect little black dress that can be worn for years and years. From classy and sophisticated dinner parties to a wild night out with friends the Little Black Dress or LBD has become a go to look in every woman’s closet.

Effortlessly being dressed up and down depending on the occasion Way before the days of Chanel (with whom the dress has become synonymous with), it was originally known as the symbol of mourning in Victorian era. Although it became a symbol of liberalization and modernization after 1920s, redefining women’s fashion forever! Let’s look at some iconic Little Black Dress moments in fashion history.

First Little Black Dress By Coco Chanel

The first little black dress was  created by Coco Chanel for cover of Vogue France in 1926. The model wore a long-sleeved dress with a drop waist. The dress discarded the idea of black being a mourning colour and became the first official little black dress, which would inspire women for generations and have a special place in their wardrobes. Vogue had proclaimed the look as, “uniform for all women of taste”. The black dress was also popularized by other famous French designers like Jean Patou and Edward Molyneux.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe adorned a black cocktail dress in a promotional portrait for director John Huston’s film ‘The Asphalt Jungle’ where she effortlessly stunned in an off-shoulder black dress. This specific off-shoulder ensemble took a special spot in fashion history as one of her most iconic and memorable fashion moments.

Audrey Hepburn

Though Coco Chanel may have made the little black dress but Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s definitely made the ensemble a pop culture moment and a fashion statement. Designed by Hubert de Givenchy, Hepburn’s look consisted of the little black dress styled with gloves and pearl jewellery. Ironically the little black dress worn by Hepburn was not actually little, Hepburn wore a longer dress but a version that is known as the little black dress was actually seen on the Givenchy Haute Couture fall/winter runway 1998.

Princess Diana

Princess Diana’s “Revenge Dress” was the little black dress, she wore to the Vanity Fair party few hours after her husband, the Prince of Wales, admitted to adultery on national television. The dress was iconic not only because of Princess’s head turning appearance but also because it broke several royal protocols. Diana donned an off-shoulder dress and styled it with a stunning pearl choker with sapphire brooch. The look was just sheer perfection.

Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham is probably considered the ambassador of the little black dress as she has worn several on various on occasions, each one just as iconic. But one of the most popular Victoria dress would be the one she wore when she announced her engagement to David Beckham by showing off her ring to the paparazzi.

Elizabeth Hurley

Elizabeth Hurley stunned in the iconic Versace Gold Safety Pin dress to the post-premiere party of her then boyfriend Hugh Grant’s latest film, “Four Weddings And A Funeral” in London, England. The dress had a plunging neckline and safety pins adorned the sides of the dress. It also caused a bit of a controversy but it hurled Hurley to fame. Anne Hatheway wore A dress inspired by the it, to the 2023 Met Gala three decades after Hurley’s iconic look.

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