The Classic Black Dress

CEBU, Philippines - In the world of fashionable dressing, we have seen splashes of color, flounces and frills, flamboyant beading, laces, daring ornamentation and even evening pantsuits have made the occasional trendy appearance. And of course, hemlines have risen and fallen and risen again. But what remains the star of any season, is a well-loved item that's never gone out of style - the classic black dress. It has changed from the shadows of mourning garb to become an acceptable color for every daywear.

It is simply the one wardrobe item that makes every woman feel great and look great, any time of year. In fact, the black dress has qualified as an entire wardrobe (when worked with accessories) ever since Coco Chanel created it in the 1920s.  

 More recently, the black dress short or long has been created in a variety of silhouettes and fabrics that assure a look of instant elegance.

 Despite the fact that dresses are so easy to wear, black is the real reason for its success. The only truly basic color, at once formal and informal, it puts the focus on the face, slims the body and conceals imperfect tailoring. Under a jacket it can appear suit like, yet it's sexy on its own, perfect from morning to night for any occasion.

 Why black? It can be elegant, classic, sexy, funky or mournful, it imparts a timelessness to clothes, it has an impressive pedigree (Audrey Hepburn, Cat Woman, Morticia Addams) and it is the uniform of most fashion editors worldwide. It hides stains, it goes well with all colors, it has a unique ability to stand out, blend in, seduce or intrigue. What other color does all this and takes off ten pounds?

 In essence the black dress has been rediscovered as every woman's ultimate necessity. Its graceful lines and slimming color give it versatility unmatched by any other garment. (FREEMAN)