A famous piece of feminine clothing, the little black was created by Coco Chanel in the 1920s. Nowadays considered an essential element of any woman’s wardrobe, it comes in the form of a usually short dress whose lines are simple and the color dark. Classic, chic and timeless, it is the appropriate outfit for social gatherings, formal and informal and it is a typical item for the twentieth century fashion.
The first little black dress from Coco Chanel appeared in Vogue magazine in 1926. It is very simple, has long sleeves and stops at the knees level. It is called by the media Chanel’s Ford because of its simplicity. It was, however, scandalous for those times, both because its length and of its color, which at that moment, was reserved to widows and servants. However, the French designer’s vision proved to be right as the black dress became over the years a symbol of elegance and refinement as it can be worn by all types of silhouette and it never goes out of fashion.
Other designers among which Nettie Rosenstein claimed without success the patent of the little black dress, but all they actually did was increase its popularity. Chanel’s rival. Elsa Schiaparelli renowned for her shocking cuts and pink shades, also created her version of black dress. Forty years after its first public appearance, the same piece of clothing is stapled for eternity in the fashion’s books when it is worn by Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.
Nowadays, the search for the perfect little black dress could be similar to that of the charming prince and only few women can claim to have found the perfect version. Sometimes made of lace and very transparent, sometimes adorned by glittering stones or rock accessories, the little black dress remains in the top of women’s preferences for ever.
