The Little Black Dress: Greater than its name

Every woman looks great wearing it, and every woman has her own. In 1926, when Coco Chanel wore black to an event that was not a funeral, she revolutionised women's fashion. She could have never predicted the lasting love women would have with her simple, chic black dress. Since then, this garment has become a must-have for every single wardrobe. Glamorous or modest, the truth is that there is nothing as elegant and chic as a little black dress. Whatever the occasion, the little black dress guarantees a sophisticated, elegant, and stylish look.

The Little Black Dress became Chanel’s signature garment, but the one that really made it a star was Audrey Hepburn. Who doesn't remember her in the famous film 'Breakfast at Tiffany’s' wearing an amazingly elegant black dress by Hubert de Givenchy and accessorized with pearls? It is one of the most legendary movies ever!

In her early films, the cartoon character Betty Boop was drawn wearing a little black dress. Later in the 30s when free expression was stopped, a more straight-laced style, with a longer dress was imposed. Afterwards her black dress was changed to a red one.

The Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, famous for having lots of little black dresses, once said: “When the little black dress is right, there is nothing else to wear in its place”. Jackie Onnasis also had fascination for this garment. Oleg Cassini was designing smart black dresses for her, and she was always accessorising them with her famous oversize sunglasses. Rita Hayworth also had a passion for them, and indeed she looked great and glamorous.

Dr. Valerie Steele, Director and Chief Curator of the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, found it so important and so gorgeous as a garment, that she wrote a book about it. A book full of photos of dresses designed from Coco Chanel to Christian Dior, and iconic images of movie legends such as Audrey Hepburn and Rita Hayworth.

Didier Ludot owns the most famous vintage clothing store in Paris.Ludot has built and maintained a collection of black dresses with designs by Chanel, Balmain, Balenciaga, and Gaultier, and others. Photographs of these dresses as well as photos of Catherine Deneuve, Sofia Loren, Edith Piaf, Paloma Picasso, and Elizabeth Taylor in their black dress can be seen in her book Little Black Dress: Vintage Treasure. A tour from yesterday to today.

In her book ‘the little black dress’, Amy Holman Edelman also presents photos and illustrations of this delightful garment.

Melissa Clark and Robin Aronson wrote a very fun-to-read book which is called 'The Skinny: How to Fit Into Your Little Black Dress Forever'. It gives you advice on how to eat when you absolutely must fit into your dress by the weekend, and it comes with more than 75 amazing recipes.

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The little black dress has been the signature of society's most enviably dressed women. Surely there is nothing more essential and more powerful than this special garment. Timeless glamour!

Illustration: Pam Weber

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Todas la mujeres parecen esplendidas en el, y todas las mujeres tienen el suyo. En el 1926, cuando Coco Chanel usó negro a un acontecimiento que no era un funeral, recolucionó la moda femenina. Nunca hubiera imaginado el amor eterno que las mujeres tendrian para esta prenda tan sencilla pero tan elegante a la vez. Desde entonces, el little black dress se ha convertido a un must-have para cada guardarropa. Encantador o modesto, la verdad es que no hay nada más elegante que el vestido negro. En cada ocasión, el little black dress garantiza un look sofisticado, elegante, y con mcho estilo.

El little black dress se convirtió en la prenda estrella firmada por Chanel, pero la que realmente lo hizo una estrella era Audrey Hepburn. ¿Quién no tiene en mente esta pelicula famosa 'Desayuno con diamantes' que lleva un vestido negro muy elegante de Hubert de Givenchy y puesto con perlas? ¡Es tan legendaria esta pelicula!

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En sus primeras peliculas, el carácter Betty Boop fue dibujada con un little black dress. En los años 30, se lo cambiaron a una version más larga, para luego cambiarlo a su version roja. La duquesa de Windsor, Wallis Simpson, famosa por tener variados vestidos negros, dijo: "cuando el little black dress es correcto, no hay nada mas que usar en su lugar". Jackie Onnasis también tenía fascinación para esta prenda. Oleg Cassini diseñaba los vestidos negros elegantes para ella, y siempre los acompañaba con sus famosas gafas de sol. Rita Hayworth también tenía una pasión por ello, y la verdad es que parecía esplendida y glamurosa en ello.

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Dr. Valerie Steele, Directora del Museo del Fashion Institute of Technology en Nueva York, lo encontró tan importante y tan magnífico como prenda, que escribió un libro sobre él. Un libro de fotos de vestidos diseñados por Coco Chanel y Christian Dior entre otros, y de imágenes de leyendas como Audrey Hepburn y Rita Hayworth. . .

Didier Ludot tiene la tienda vintage más famosa de Paris. Ludot ha construido y ha mantenido una colección de little black dresses de Chanel, Balmain, Balenciaga, y Gaultier entre otros. Fotografías de estos vestidos como tambien fotos de Catherine Deneuve, Sofía Loren, Edith Piaf, Paloma Picasso, Elizabeth Taylos en sus vestidos negro se pueden ver en el libro 'The Little Black Dress: Vintage Treasure'.

En su de libro ‘The little black dress’ Amy Holman Edelman también presenta fotos e ilustraciones de esta prenda magnifica.

Melissa Clark and Robin Aronson escribieron un libro muy divertido de leer que se llama 'The Skinny: How to Fit Into Your Little Black Dress Forever'. Es un libro que da consejos en que comer cuando absolutamente tienes que entrar en tu little black dress. Viene con mas de 75 increibles recetas.

El little black dress ha sido lo mejor que las mujeres mejor vestidas han llevado. Nada es más esencial y más poderoso que un little black dress. Un glamour sin limites .

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