Little Black Dress

Have you ever wondered why black dresses are so popular among women?

Black dresses seem to be appropriate for any event during any time of the year. No matter what kind of party you are attending, there are always women in black dresses.

Recently we were invited to a fund raiser for the local hospital. The event was a formal dinner, silent auction and dance and was held at a local country club. My husband wore his best suit and I wore an evening dress that was royal blue.

As we mingled among the guests I noticed that the majority of the women were in formal black dresses. All of the black designer dresses were different styles but since there were so many of them, the styles didn't matter because the only thing you noticed was the color.

A Blue Dress can Work Too!!

Since I felt out of place in my blue dress, the thought went through my mind that I had two black dresses I could have worn and wished I had picked one of them.

Then my husband asked me to dance.

As we were dancing he told me how pretty I looked and that he was glad I was wearing the blue dress. He said he gets tired of seeing women in black dresses all the time.

After he said this, I started contemplating on the number of times women are told they have to own a little black party dress in order to complete their wardrobe. Think about it! When you go shopping for clothes, black dresses are the most plentiful items on the racks.

The styles vary, but as I had experienced at the fund raiser, when you see so many people in the same color the styles do not stand out. The two black dresses that I own are very different from each other in fabric and cut, yet I am sure that when I wear them most people just notice that I have on a black dress.

When I was young I was invited to the high school prom. My mother and I went shopping for a dress for me. There were many styles and colors, but of course, the one I liked was in black. My mother would not allow me to get the black dress. She said that women spend so many years wearing black dresses that I should wear a brighter color while I was young.

I think my mom was ahead of her time in her way of thinking. I am sure that black dresses will continue to be the accepted norm for formal occasions because every female owns at least one black dress, but women should not limit themselves to the one color.

As I was thinking about my black dresses, ideas came to me about how I could make them appear dressy or casual just by adding a few accessories, but since the comment my husband made at the fund raising dinner, I am more elective in the colors that I choose for my special occasion clothing. I still want to dress tastefully for an occasion, but I am no longer limiting myself to black dresses. It made me feel good that my husband thought I stood out from the other women in the room.

But, I guess everyone needs at least one little black dress they can throw on and look fabulous in for that last minute invitation to a special event.

Remember, if you must wear black, you can be the highlight of the evening and stand out from all the other women by adding elegant jewelry, flashy purse or even a jacket.

Mini Dress Fashion

If it's spring then it must be mini dress season, and 2009 is no exception to this rule. Regardless of how warm, cold, rainy, or sunny the weather might be, celebrities and stars are embracing the newest mini dress looks both on the red carpet and in everyday life.

The recent Costume Institute Gala held at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art was a dress lover's paradise, with tons of the world's best known stars showing up in a huge array of mini dress fashions. From the simple classics to the ultra modern, there was no shortage (no pun intended) of "above the knee" dresses populating the red carpet arrivals.

Actress Anne Hathaway harkened back to the 1960?s with her combination of retro hair and a mini dress of lush purple taffeta. The skirt was balloon-like rather than straight, a fashion statement that few people could have pulled off so successfully. Although the dress was certainly not the kind to suit everyone's taste, Hathaway looked lovely anyway.

On the other end of the spectrum was Madonna. The so-called "material girl" wore a dress that quite frankly looked like a shrunken pair of pantaloons left over from the Elizabethan age. The colour was not quite turquoise but not quite green, instead falling somewhere in between in a shade best described by the word "blah". All in all the outfit just didn't work on any level, but there is a bright side: Madonna?s fashion disaster offers a great lesson to others who want to participate in the mini dress trend without making major fashion mistakes.

If you want to wear a mini dress then you absolutely should "go for it", as long as you have a good sense of what works and what doesn't work on your own body. Unless you have a huge amount of confidence and a picture-perfect figure it's best to stay away from the modern/strange looks and instead opt for the modern/classic looks. Choose a mini dress that's about mid-thigh in length or slightly shorter, but never so short that your bum hangs out the back or you can't sit comfortably and modestly. If you?re looking for a splash of colour consider a mini dress with a fun and trendy print to it, like polka dots (big or small), distinctive floral, or an all over bold colour like red, royal blue, emerald green, or the like.

Of course, most of us simply want a mini dress that's comfortable, stylish, and practical for everyday living, so don't be afraid to shop around for more casual mini dress styles. Jersey knits, cottons, linens, and rayon are all great fabric choices when you're looking for a mini dress to wear at work, while shopping, or just for casual comfort and style.