The Closet Coach

This summer I ran a poll asking readers to vote on the number one thing every well-dressed woman’s closet must have. The clear winner was the Little Black Dress.

It’s not surprising, is it? Read any stylist’s advice for what your core wardrobe should contain and every list includes the famous “LBD.”

First popularized by Coco Chanel in the ‘20s, the right LBD is flattering, flexible and timeless.

It’s especially perfect this time of year, when cocktail parties and holiday evening events abound. You can’t go wrong with a Little Black Dress at the office party with a string of pearls or on New Year’s Eve with a string of something sparkly.

How to choose the perfect Little Black Dress:

• Choose a classic cut. You want your LBD to last for years, so avoid the overly trendy in favor of something more timeless. What’s timeless? Do a Google Image search for dresses of decades past. Any that still would be stylish today, rather than looking costumey, are timeless. One exception: choosing a vintage dress that’s clearly vintage.
• Choose a classic fabric. Don’t undermine that timeless silhouette with a fabric that’s too obvious or of-the-moment. Look for subtle, rich fabrics like wool or silk. Be cautious of satin, tulle, fringe or other look-at-me fabrics (excepting, again, a deliberately vintage look).
• Make sure it flatters your body shape. What works best for you? A fuller skirt or a pencil skirt? A deep V neckline or a bateau? Apply these same principles to the shape of your LBD.

Watch the length, too. The more overtly skin-baring and sexy the LBD, the more limited its range.

I have an adorable little black Guess dress I bought years ago that’s still stylish, but I find I leave it hanging in the closet these days due to the mid-thigh skirt. What was flirty at 26 feels a little too too (as in “too much” and “trying too hard”) at 41.

Ditto for strapless styles; it limits the wearability of your dress since there are so many fewer occasions when you can bare that much skin.

What to buy

Your turn

• What’s your idea of the perfect Little Black Dress?
• What LBD do you have hanging in your closet?

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