Vintage Dresses – The Little Black Dress (LBD)

Coco Chanel started the trend and other designers followed the trend. We have the style icons to show us how to wear it, with Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe showing us how to rock the little black Dress, elegant and sexy with minimal effort. From Rive Gauche/YSL to Givenchy the little black dress was and still is the epitome of style and class. You can buy a brand new LBD anywhere these days, body con is very now, but there is no better black dress than a Vintage black dress.

It just comes with so much more magic, mystery and pizzazz than one bought on the high street. How about a Gatsby inspired Miss Selfridge dress from the 1940s? What would you give for an identical Givenchy number like Audrey Hepburn perhaps, worn for Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Or a strappy 1970s dress, or an eighties Frank Usher with fluted panels?

There are sites online that feature LBDs from every era. You can choose a favourite decade and pick your little black dress. I know, it’s enough to make your spine tingle. Surprisingly; not all vintage black dresses are expensive either, you can easily find one for less than £100 if you do your homework. Dress it up or down with accessories, a pair of flat black pumps, vintage of course, followed by a simple clutch or a small leather purse. Jet earrings or simple gold studs; wear your little black dress in whichever way you want.

The original little black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the opening scenes of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and designed by Hubert de Givenchy was sold at auction in 2006 for a staggering £467,200 at Christie’s auction house. It was one of three made for her as the Manhattan socialite Holly Golightly in the 1961 film based on the book by Truman Capote.

If your budget won’t quite stretch that far then take a look online and you can find some real vintage gems. Be careful for titles like “vintage inspired” or “vintage style.” It’s either vintage or it isn’t. But there are some little gems hidden away, forties styles make for particularly good LBDs. Lots of detail on sleeves, lovely shapes and cinched in silhouettes. Plenty of lift in the shoulders and stop at the knee, for those sick of LBDs stopping at the thigh, you’ll be relieved to find that a lot of Vintage Dresses, depending on which era you’re looking at will go to the knee or below.

Most of all enjoy it, vintage is about equality, it’s universal and global and it’s for everyone. It’s about the love and appreciation of fashion from bygone eras and styles that left their stamp on each decade. The LBD made its own contribution and long may she reign.

Thanks for reading, it would be great to hear from you!

My Vintage!

Come and visit My Vintage at our vintage shop based in Lancashire for unique vintage clothing, vintage dresses and much more or shop online for unique, one of a kind vintage gems!