How to Dress the Little Black Dress

Karl Lagerfeld once said, "One is never over or under-dressed with a little black dress". This quote remains true even now in today’s fashion society thanks to Coco Chanel, who made the "LBD" one of the most notorious fashion statements known to man. The beauty of the black dress is that you can either dress it up or down according to occasion, while still looking classy and chic with the simplicity of the color black. Here at FINE, we are going to show you some different ways to utilize the "LBD" so that you can wear this elegant fashion piece day and night throughout your everyday life.

Dressing down the little black dress is a perfect way to put together a casual but sophisticated look. Here at FINE, we love to accessorize the little black dress to give it a daytime feel that's perfect for running errands or getting lunch with your friends.

One of the best ways to dress down a little black dress is to add some type of hat or hair accessory. If it’s fall/winter time, you can add a beanie, if it is summer/spring you can add a baseball cap or a fedora. It is essential to incorporate a type of sweater or garment to give your "LBD" some flair, if it is fall/winter you can always add a flannel or knit sweater to keep cozy. During the spring and summer seasons, it always looks great to add a jean jacket or a cardigan.

For business casual work environments, you can pair your little black dress with a blazer for a more professional look while you’re in the office. Lastly, it is crucial that you nail the correct casual footwear for your "LBD". For instance, with a fall/winter look, you could always pair the look with a cute pair of booties or fall boots. For a spring/summer look, a little black dress always looks great with Converse, ballet flats, or a pair of embellished sandals for a little pop.

Some of our favorite local stores to find casual little black dresses are TRE Boutique in Encinitas, Vixen in Encinitas, Nordstrom, and Lulus online

As much as we love dressing down a little black dress, it’s just as fun and exciting to dress up an "LBD". Dressing up a little black dress is perfect for date nights, cocktail parties, and events that require more of an elegant look. Dressing up a little black dress is as simple as putting on some jewelry, throwing on a pair of heels, and grabbing a clutch purse.

Jewelry-wise, it is always smart to wear a statement necklace if you are wearing a lower neckline. If you have a high-neckline dress, you can always add more subtle jewelry pieces such as simple hoop earrings, or a classic bracelet, for a dainty but polished look.

Heels are the most essential component to dressing up a look. Any style or color of high-heeled shoes looks great with a little black dress including pumps, slingbacks, and strappy heels. However, you can add some uniqueness and personal flair to your look through your heels because the little black dress is so simplistic and standard in its own way.

Lastly, a clutch or evening bag is a great way to dress up a look while keeping all your belongings together. Clutches with design or embellishments always give some spice to an all-black look, and are small enough to easily carry around for the night.

Some of our favorite stores to get classic black dresses from are Nordstrom, Chic Me online, and Satori Design in Solana Beach.

Many people may confuse the iconic little black dress as a night look only. However, now we know that the little black dress can be utilized in many different ways accommodating both a day and night look. Whether you’re dressing for a day around town or a night out FINE is here to help you look fabulous for the occasion.