The History of the Little Black Dress

1920s - 1930s

1920s - 1930s

Prior to the 1920s, the Little Black Dress, or LBD' as it is ubiquitously known, did not exist. The wearing of black was reserved purely for mourning. This all changed in 1926 when Vogue published a pictured of a black, calf-length sheath dress by Gabrielle Coco' Chanel. The concept of the Little Black Dress was born. Chanel had revolutionised fashion. Her vision of an item that was long lasting, versatile, affordable and accessible to those of all social classes had been achieved. Vogue described the black dress as A sort of uniform for women of all tastes'.

1940s-1950s

During this period, the popularity of the black dress continued to rise. WWII saw more women than ever before entering the workforce. The simplicity of the black dress became a uniform of sorts. This period also saw the rise of the Femme Fatale the black dress being the trademark look. Into the 50s and the black dress was revitalised with the introduction of Diors New Look' collection, a line of extravagant black dresses. This marked the end of the period of fabric scarcity and the utilitarian wartime dress. Femininity was back!

1960s-1970s

The beginning of the 60s heralded a definitive fashion moment Audrey Hepburn wearing a Givenchy black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Givenchy's timeless design remains a classic, even today in an ever changing world of fashion. Elsewhere, the mod generation was rising and so were hemlines. The black dress experienced a revamp with cut-outs, use of sheer fabric, slit skirts and of course the mini-dress. In the 70s, disco fever hit the world and the black dress took a back seat as fashions for the most part were loud and bright. The decade did see some black dress designs, with Bill Blass bringing back sleek and simple silhouettes. There were also plenty of slinky numbers for the disco and some lacy and folky feminine styles.

1980s-1990s

The 80s saw a resurgence in popularity of the Little Black Dress. Casual fabrics and knits became popular, and of course the Dallas and Dynasty generation saw power dressing, shoulder pads, and cocktail dresses, black being the perfect choice. The black dress was back with a vengeance. In the 90s, the black dress continued to be the first choice for celebrities think Liz Hurley in that Versace gown, but the era also saw the emergence of grunge culture, which saw the style take a less than glamorous turn when teamed with sandals or combat boots. The number of looks this item can take on is proof that

The History of the Little Black Dress

By: Naomi Robertson

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