In 1926 Coco Chanel creates the first little black dress for all day and every occasion. Mademoiselle Chanel even combined it with a series of white pearls. Vogue calls it the “Ford” dress and predicts that it “will become the uniform of all elegant women”.
The little black dress does not take long to conquer women’s hearts and find its place in their wardrobe. Regardless, if the reason for its creation was a rather sad affair. At least that’s what a whole mythology built around Coco’s life claims.
It is said that the famous designer started wearing black when her lover Boy Capel was tragically killed in 1919. The first black dresses she made were inspired by the simple, mournful costume of French peasant women.
The apotheosis
In the 1950s, famous Hollywood stars such as Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor give it a dose of glamour. At the same time that Christian Dior declared in 1954: ‘Black is worn at all times of the day and on every occasion’.
A symbol of the Mod scene, the little black dress is transformed in the 60s into a mini black dress with Yves Saint Laurent and other designers turning it into the uniform of stylish young women. In the 1980s, Donna Karan’s groundbreaking Seven Easy Pieces collection changed the way working girls dressed.
The minimalism of the ’90s gives LBD the leading role again with simple, abstract lines and almost geometric patterns. The most famous for her appearances in little black dresses all day long becomes the famous model Kate Moss.
Although it has never gone out of fashion, the little black dresskeeps returning tothe catwalks. More refreshed, slightly reminiscent of the modest, austere piece of the past.
