Little black dresses – or the ‘LBD’ to you and I – will forever be one of the most valuable pieces in any wardrobe.
One of those rare sartorial phenomenons which somehow manages to both transcend seasonal trends while remaining one of the chicest things you can put on your body, there are very few occasions for which a little black dress wouldn’t be appropriate. Which is why it’s so ideal for this festive season, in particular, where none of us are quite sure where – or how – we’ll be spending Christmas thanks to the dramatic rise in Covid cases and subsequent precautions once again.
But why is it such a cult buy? If you’ve got a ‘trusty LBD’ that you return to time and time again, then you’ll already know the answer to that.
The little black dress has a certain balance of modesty and arrogance that is very hard to find in other pieces. Classic but super sexy, easy-to-wear but elevated, statement-making without the fear of being ‘overdressed’… there are so many benefits to the humble LBD that make them one of the most hard-working pieces in your wardrobe – and therefore one of the wisest buys.
And for those of you with a slight aversion to getting your legs out, fear not. While the mini-length hem may be a major trend right now, we find ourselves in the middle of the midi/maxi era. Great news for many of us, these days the LBD needn’t be exclusively ‘little’, and in fact can be just as impactful when the ‘L’ stands for ‘long’.
So whether you’re into teeny tiny little black dresses or ones with a touch more coverage, there is a smorgasbord of options to suit us all.
Which have we got our eye on right now? In the short-short arena we’re very into Zara’s asymmetric dress, a blazer wrap dress by Mango and Rixo’s multicoloured sequin iteration. Elsewhere, the slightly more under-the-radar Nué Studio has just dropped a seriously epic asymmetrical number with a rhinestone cup that you can almost guarantee no one else will have discovered.
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If you’re looking for something a little longer, Zara’s midi dress with a neck-strapped situation is hard to beat, while Khaite’s sensational off-the-shoulder piece is as exceptionally-cut as it is timeless.
Sold? Scroll down for our pick of the 34 LBDs worth adding to your basket pronto ahead of party season…
And if you need any further inspiration, these iconic little black dresses from Princess Diana to Audrey Hepburn are everything.
For more from Glamour UK’s Fashion Editor Charlie Teather, follow her on Instagram @charlieteather.