the Little Black Dress to the Wrap Dress

When thinking of iconic pieces in fashion two which stand out and have seen reemergence through the years are the Little Black Dress and the Wrap Dress.

The Little Black Dress, better known as the LBD, was popularized in the 1920s by CoCo Chanel. While black had traditionally been worn only in times of mourning, in 1926 Chanel published a sketch of a simple, calf-length black dress in American Vogue. The LBD became an accessible staple for women of all classes during the years of the Great Depression and World War II.

American Vogue 1926

Chanel Little  Black Dress

 Forty years later the LBD saw a significant reemergence with Holly Golightly in the 1961 classic film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The Breakfast at Tiffany’s LBD by Givenchy created a standard of wearing the simple sheath dress for women of the 1960s. The white strings of pearls, elbow high black gloves, oversized sunglasses, and Audrey Hepburn pulled together the classic look of the LBD.

Even today over fifty years since Breakfast at Tiffany’s and nearly ninety years since Chanel’s first sketch, the LBD can be seen on runways each season and in many designers’ collections. Reemerging with new styling and design the LBD was extremely prevalent at the 2012 Grammy Awards, showing how this iconic piece will remain in fashion for the long haul.

“When a little black dress is right, there is nothing else to wear in its place.”

Wallis Warfield Simpson - Duchess of Windsor

An iconic piece, which emerged in the 70s from Diane von Furstenberg was the wrap dress. The easy to wear piece became popular with career women who needed a comfortable, stylish piece to wear to the office. The wrap dress silhouette easily flattered all body types and from 1972 to 1976 5 million wrap dresses were sold.

 Usually produced in a comfortable knit fabric, the wrap dress is made in all sleeve lengths with a belt or closure around the waist to secure the dress closed.  Forty years since its initial popularity the wrap dress is still very well-known. It has found a place on the shelves of popular department stores and in the repertoire of many current designers.

Through new designs and updated takes on the wrap dress the same silhouette can be seen on many red carpets with celebrities wearing evening gown versions of the wrap dress. The Little Black Dress has had an iconic and classic longevity over its ninety year history. It will be exciting to watch how the wrap dress emerges as it moves towards its ninetieth birthday.

“I design for the woman who loves being a woman. ”

Diane von Furstenderg

 

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