The Little Black Dress (LBD) is a fashion staple and has been around since the 1920s when iconic French designers Coco Chanel and Jean Patou first designed black cocktail and eveningwear dresses, as before then black was primarily used for mourning but not anymore. These days most designers have a few good LBDs in their collections each season and we've found six beautiful ones to suit different styles, tastes and budgets.
Trelise Cooper Young. Mesh N New Dress $899 (left) & Celine Rita Dani Dress $250 (right).
We couldn't write a story about LBDs without mentioning New Zealand's party dress queen, Trelise Cooper, although she does many colourful looks each season, she always does some stunning black dresses as well. The gorgeous Young. Mesh N New dress is our pick of her LBDs this season and we love the sculptural silhouette which is flattering as well as eye-catching. Delicate embroidery and sheer mesh make this dress irresistibly romantic and perfect for so many occasions.
Celine Rita's designs are always fresh and pretty with a touch of French chic, and we are adoring this sweet Dani dress in a classic off the shoulder style. One of the things we love about this dress is it's versatile and easily dressed up or down depending on the event. The nipped in waist and full knee-length skirt make for a feminine silhouette that is easy to wear.
Ezibuy Capture Swing dress $69.99 (left) & Helen Cherry Tuxedo Dress $679 (right).
Swing dresses are a simple but stylish look and we're a fan of Ezibuy's Capture Swing dress that has a lace panel at the shoulders and lace sleeves. The vintage-inspired style means it's a classic that will work every season and the body skimming shape means it flatters most body types and is comfortable to move around in. Definitely a dance floor staple.
Helen Cherry excels at modern looks with a twist and the Tuxedo dress is beautifully tailored with a contrasting white stripe down the sleeves for those who prefer their LBDs sleek and contemporary. This lovely dress is wool crepe which makes it a warm choice for winter occasions and could be dressed up with statement jewellery if you want to make it more glamorous.
Augustine Victory Cup Dress $199 (left) & Kate Sylvester Adele Dress $649 (right)
Augustine's playful ethos comes through in the Victory Cup dress which features stunning statement shoulders for those who like to be noticed. This is one of those dresses made for parties and the tie at the waist creates a great silhouette which balances out the shoulders. While Augustine is known for their more colourful looks, their black dresses always have fun details for those who want a point of difference.
Always elegant, Kate Sylvester's take on the LBD is feminine and intelligent with this Adele dress that is a perfect style for any age. The semi-sheer embroidery adds a sensuality to this look and the higher neckline, long sleeves and midi-length skirt keeps it modest enough for any occasion. The simplicity of this style means it could be worn for many seasons to come.
Images from each designer's website.