Your Little Black Dress is chic. It’s a sophisticated option on which you can always rely. It’s also part of most closet must-have lists alongside some other notable and necessary items. You love your LBD, but you might also wonder if you’re getting the most out of it.
While your LBD can be dressed up, down and any level in between, it’s important to know how to style it for success in each and every situation. More casual events or occasions might prove to be an easier way to style a little black dress, it’s true, but a nicer event is a welcome challenge indeed when it comes to shoes, jewelry, outerwear and accessories. Here’s everything you need to know about styling your little black dress to the max for special events.
Go for a Fabulous Fit
When it comes to a perfect little black dress, fit is everything. You might go so far as to say that fit can make it or break it with an LBD. When you have a killer fit and style, everything else is just icing on the cake. For an elevated LBD style, choose a dress with a fit you love. Go for something that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Otherwise, you’ll be concentrated on pulling up your straps or wondering if your dress is too short in the back. Take the time to find a little black dress that makes you feel exceptionally good, no matter how many times you’ve worn it.
You should also incorporate your favorite features! If you really love showing off your shoulders or back, go for a dress that features a low back, spaghetti straps or both. If you love to show off your hourglass shape, go for a dress that ties or cinches at your natural waistline to accentuate the area. On the other hand, it’s important to know what you don’t like, too. If showing a lot of cleavage is scary or unnatural for you, steer clear of LBDs with plunging necklines. Instead, think about how you might stylishly cover that area with a statement halter neckline or mockneck element for colder weather. It’s okay to be picky when it comes to something like a little black dress.
Focus on Footwear
The two Fs of elevated little black dress styling are Fit and Footwear. Once you’ve checked the first one off your list, it’s time to focus on shoes. Footwear is so important with special occasion dresses because it can really change up the overall look. You can absolutely get away with wearing a more casual little black dress with a pair of cute high heels to a cocktail party because the shoes elevate the look. Pairing heels with your LBD helps to maximize its potential and take things up a notch.
When styling a short little black dress, think about how your heels might tie in with a certain feature within your dress. For example, you could pair a little black dress with dainty criss-cross straps on the back with a pair of strappy black or metallic heels to tie the two together. It’s important to think about balance here, too. If there’s a statement feature or focal point on your little black dress, you don’t want to overpower it with a pair of over-the-top heels. Instead, think about pairing this type of dress with a classic pair of black pumps to keep the look sophisticated and streamlined.
Don’t Skip the Jewelry
No matter your style or preference, jewelry can noticeably change up a little black dress look. It’s no secret that trendy jewelry styles are easy to notice. Most jewelry is on or near your face, so it’s going to be the first thing people see in addition to the little black dress itself. Maximizing your little black dress with a little help from your jewelry is simple and can be changed up each time to create a different look. Here are a few things to remember when using jewelry to elevate a little black dress for a special event:
- Stick to a Theme: To create a sleek and cohesive look, go with an overall jewelry theme. You can choose a general shape, material (i.e., gold vs. silver) or style of jewelry to achieve this. Remember to keep it in the same general theme so as not to overpower the dress or make the look seem undone.
- Choose Earrings First: Choosing your earrings first will make the rest of your jewelry decisions much easier. Think about balancing large earrings with no necklace and minimal wrist wear — and vice versa.
- Sparkle, Sparkle!: An easy way to maximize LBD power is to turn up the shine! Break out your diamonds, shiny metals and shimmering pieces.
