Little, black,
Classic Vaughn Vreeland, Olivia Niemeyer MEDIA ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, POLITICAL SCIENCE PHOTOS BY ALISON RYNCARZ
Black.
What comes to mind when one thinks of this timeless treasure of a color? Black is…bland? blasé? banal? But strong emphasis must be placed on another ‘B’: basic. Basic might infer boring, yet in the right context, it is anything but. Lying therein are boundless possibilities just waiting to be dared and explored. The little black dress for women and little black tie for men (or, these Little Black Essentials) are anything besides that mostfeared ‘b’ word—boring. These are trends come and go for a reason, but the little black essential has proven throughout history that it’s here to stay. It is a constant icon amidst a sea of ever-evolving prêt-à-porter (that’s ready-towear, just in case you aren’t strolling along the Champs-Élysées). There is a serious problem plaguing the American clothing consumer in regard to this concept, however. Most men and women buy an LBD or LBT and then don’t know what to do with it, unaware that adding a little spice can add a lot of style. Confidence is key. Every self-proclaimed “fashion maven” out there must attack fashion at its roots and spin it upon itself to create something unique and true. If you haven’t obtained that perfect piece yet, we must offer a snippet of advice: there is no time like the present.
The LBD Coco Chanel once said, “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” Fashion fanatics across the world all have that go-to LBD for every season. It’s a staple in her closet. It hugs her in all the right places. It makes her feel like Gisele when she steps out on the town. Do you have this piece in your repertoire? Is that go-to dress in your closet that places yourself amongst the glamazons who traipse the streets of Milan during fashion week, despite what your actual week in the Elon bubble has consisted of? If not, never fear. The beauty of the little black dress lies in its ease and effortless appreciation of art and timelessness.
The LBT
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The little black tie made its way onto the scene in the late 50s and 60s, popularized by none other than John, Paul, George, and Ringo. The British Invasion carried with it more than just music; art, language, and most of all, fashion, were all rapidly changing at the time. Since then, the LBT has remained the single most versatile weapon a man can have in his arsenal of style. It can be dressed up, dressed down, worn at an interview, or worn at a hip bar in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Make sure to never take for granted endless possibilities of a little black tie, and always keep the way in which you present it true to your style.