It's Christmas Eve, and what that usually means is if you haven't already been to at least one party for the Holiday Season, you have one coming up shortly. This is the time of year marked by an abundance of office parties, Christmas cocktails, and of course, Old Year's Night celebrations. I don't know about you, but somewhere around the mid-point of this season I run out of things to wear. All the cute outfits that you’ve purchased during the year are either unsuitable or have been worn already, and repeating such standout pieces is out of the question. This is the point when I advise the use of what should be every woman's backup – the LBD, or little black dress. So here are some tips I’ve been told, or discovered myself, about this basic wardrobe essential.
Picking the LBD
Of course, when picking any dress ensuring the correct size and personality fit are most important; the same is true for choosing a LBD. However, there are some things that also come into play when initially selecting one for purchase, and it's also helpful in weighing these same factors when deciding which dress to wear – that is, the appropriateness of the LBD. Is it too short? Too revealing? Maybe it has sequins or beading, which makes it more ‘dressy’ even before accessorizing. Different occasions require different dress codes; that’s why it is so important to find a versatile LBD – one that isn't over the top in any way, and provides a base for an outfit so that it can be dressed up or embellished with jewelry, or can be dressed down and worn casually, if necessary.
Caring for an LBD
It is important that the LBD be carefully looked after. We all know that black is one of the trickiest colours to deal with, laundry-wise. Uncared for blacks fade, get ruined with bleach, or come out of the wash covered with lint. It is especially important that the LBD be well cared for, because the point of having one is to be able to throw it on in a bind. So, it should always look in good condition. Here, the usual laundry rules apply – always follow the cleaning instructions found on the tab inside the dress. If your wallet allows, try to get the dress professionally cleaned – especially in cases of accidental food and drink stains, which can happen at parties.
Accessorizing your LBD
Probably the most important thing to know about owning a LBD is the best way to accessorize it. As I mentioned before, it is meant to be dressed up or down. I personally prefer to pick pieces that are easily removable. For example, a strappy pair of high heels and a shawl thrown around the shoulder can give an LBD a dressier feel. However, if upon arrival at the event you realize that you are overdressed, the shawl can be removed and by simply slipping on a pair of those fold away flats (another wardrobe essential for ladies), you can achieve a very basic casual look. The wonderful thing about the LBD is its lack of colour, allowing the wearer to accessorize in whatever shade they wish, without clashing – because as we all know, black goes with everything. |
