Three letters transformed the world of fashion in the 1920s. The little black dress, also known as the LBD, is as popular now as the day it debuted as a fashion staple by Coco Chanel. The little black dress is considered to be an integral piece to a complete wardrobe by many fashion advisors. No longer could women pace and ponder on a Saturday night, “I have nothing to wear!”

The little black dress is an evening or cocktail dress with a classic style cut, oftentimes with a short hemline. The LBD worn with sandals and a cropped jacket has the ability to transform from day to night by simply adding ornate jewelry and accessories with sky-towering stilettos.

A Functional Beginning

Prior to the 1920s, it was considered indecent for people to wear black clothing outside of periods of mourning. Due to the large amount of deaths during World War I, it became more common for women to be seen publicly in black clothing. In 1926, Coco Chanel published a picture of a short, simple, black dress in American Vogue. The dress was a classic style, calf-length, straight and detailed with a few diagonal lines. Vogue coined the dress “Chanel’s Ford” predicting its simple design would be as popular and accessible to women of all social classes as Ford’s ‘Model T’ vehicle. Vogue said that the dress would become a uniform for all women of taste. To this date, those predictions have remained true as designers continue to feature at least one little black dress in each new collection.

The Great Depression Begins Success

Continuing through the Great Depression, the little black dress’ success grew due to the economy and its effortless elegance. Hollywood also helped with the success of the dress as Technicolor movies became more common. Producers relied on the black color to offset the distortion created by other colors on the screen. As women began to enter the workforce, the black dress, accessorized for business wear, became a common uniform.

Hollywood Takes Over

Synthetic fibers were made popular in the 1940’s and 1950’s increasing the availability and affordability of the design. The 1950’s embraced the new idea of Hollywood femme fatales as the new halter-style dress became the symbol of a dangerous and rebellious woman. Housewives and wholesome Hollywood stars opted for a more conservative and classic style.

It's Most Famous Appearance

In 1961, Audrey Hepburn stole hearts in Breakfast at Tiffany’s as Holly Golightly, an enchanting yet neurotic New York City socialite whose window-shopping at Tiffany’s was the only thing that would calm her irrational fears. In the opening scene of this film, Hepburn is seen in a beautiful sleeveless A-line LBD complimented perfectly with black pumps, pearls and a sparkling tiara. The Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn was purchased in 2006 for $807,000 during a London auction.

Experimenting with a Classic

Whereas some women aspired to look like Hepburn’s character, many designers strived to stay relevant to the younger culture in the ‘60s as they welcomed a new approach to the classic, conservative Tiffany’s look. The hemline began to dramatically rise on the new version of the dress with cutouts or slits in the skirt or bodess of the dress. Designers also experimented with new fabrics such as tulle and netting.

The ‘70’s featured the “little dress” with a punch of color to keep in style with the disco look. Casual fabrics in the 1980’s brought the LBD back into style as women needed simple styles for work. New designs incorporated the big shoulder style of the ‘80’s.

As grunge music made a major impact on the fashions of the early 1990’s, the delicate little black dress started to see more of a hard edge when paired with heavy combat boots. As the ‘90’s came to a close and a new generation approached, the LBD came full circle back to the simple and practical approach it was once known for. Popularized by celebrities like Victoria Beckham, the little black dress is now back to being the go-to look for red carpet affairs when paired with strappy stilettos and a large cocktail ring.

As fashion evolves, so will this closet essential. The LBD has truly maintained a cutting edge style throughout all trends and will continue to change with the next generation of fashionistas.