Little Black Dress - Buy A New Chic Style

 Say you could only have one dress in your closet to serve all fashion purposes.  Do you think that could even be possible?  Before you fall on the floor laughing, think about a simple black sleeveless dress.

The little black dress style that has always been in vogue is the knee length sleeveless shift.  Knee length can be right at, just above, or just below the knee.

You can wear this dress in so many different ways.  Plain with flat sandals, in the summer, for a casual day look.  Throw on a jacket and some mid-high heels for the office.  The jacket can come off again in the evening but add nice jewelry and strappy heels and you are ready for a night on the town.  Each way gives a different look, all with the same dress.

I will show you some of my favorite black dresses and suggestions for the different ways to wear them.  Once you find a black dress or two that you like, you can have fun accessorizing. 

Simple Black Dress:  Every woman must have a simple black dress in her wardrobe, maybe two. I have one sleeveless and another long sleeve. These could be the only dresses I owned. They can be dressed up or down depending on the accessories and shoes. I have a black sweater dress that I have worn to a holiday party. When I accessorized it with pearls and black suede dressy pumps and shear hose, I was glamoured out.

This same dress became casual when I paired it with tall boots, black tights and a scarf around my neck. I felt like I had a completely different dress on. It was such a different look. I could have worn shorter boots and patterned tights for a trendier look. The possibilities are endless.

Little Black Party Dress:  Sometimes an occasion calls for an extra special dress.  You want something more than simple, something that stands out and says "wow!"  There are some great black party dresses available in a range of styles.  I came up with some of my favorites that are offered for sale below.

 All of these bebe dresses offer some unique styling features.  The halter dress outlines your curves nicely and is fully lined for a comfortable fit.

The scoopneck sleeveless tulip dress is the IT shape of the season!  It has slightly padded shoulders for those who need a little extra broadness.

Stitched seaming in the origami pleated pencil dress helps to really define the waistline.

My favorite is the ruffled neck dress.  Ruffles are the rage of the season and definitely would get you noticed!

When shopping for dresses, there are so many great designers to choose from. Of course I love the dresses offered by XOXO, bebe and Guess.  Another one of my favorite designers is BCBGMaxazria. This designer has everything from casual jersey dresses to floor length satin gowns.

For those of you who like more of a trendy, flirty style, Betsey Johnson has some great fashion looks. The look is definitely more girlie and romantic, definitely suitable for cocktail dresses. Although, I found a couple of simpler styles that I absolutely love.

Another great designer offering modern flair is Vera Wang. I like her full range of designer clothing. But, as far as a black dress goes, there are a couple of more embellished styles that would give you a trendy edge. This is a great designer for a black party dress.

Surprisingly, I found a very nice Tommy Hilfiger sweater dress. Who would have thought? Not that Tommy isn't a good designer, I just think casual sportswear with that name. It certainly pays to try dresses on regardless of the designer, you just might find a gem hiding. I think what I like about the dress is the simple styling that can easily be dressed up or down.

Here are a couple of dresses that I particularly like:

The long sleeve Betsey Johnson is simple and classic. It has a lot of potential for dressing up and down. The accessories you choose can give the dress versatility. The little band of silver adds just a little flair that can still be dressed down when covered with a jacket or a scarf.  If you are like me, when the weather is cold, sleeves are a necessity. This dress is perfect for the holiday season when the weather is cold.

I like to have a sleeveless dress as my second option but the BCBG v-neck jersey dress is a cute choice as well. The simple styling, again, allows for options. A low sandal and a short scarf tied around the neck or maybe a chunky colorful strand of beads would make this dress fun and playful. Keeping it plain and simple is always a great versatile look for any occasion.  Whereas, heels and a short strand of pearls or a simple chain with a diamond pendant would definitely be glamorous. I would definitely buy this.

The next two pictures show the same dress in two different versions. Pearls dress it up in the first picture and would be a good look for a holiday party.  When it is paired with a fancy heel and sheer hose, the look is complete.

The scarf in the second picture brings a casual look that dresses it down. If you were to throw on black tights and tall black boots, the look becomes even more casual.  Now the dress would be well suited for a dinner out with friends.  You can see that you get two very different looks with the same exact dress.

 I love these budget friendly options from Merona.  The soft jersey materials flow nicely and are quite flattering.  Both of these dresses can be dressed up or down, depending on the accessories.  With the price of these dresses, you could maybe afford to pair them with some more expensive accessories and really glamour them up.

This brand is sold through Target stores but also offered through Amazon.