Accessorize the Little Black Dress
The Little Black Dress (LBD) is one of the most versatile and stylish pieces a woman can own. It can be worn to work or out on the town, depending on how you accessorize it. Things like jewelry or shoes can make a big difference in how an LBD looks.
Contents
Steps
Decide on a Look
The great thing about an LBD is that it is extremely versatile, and can therefore take on many different styles.
- Create a conservative look with your LBD. For a conservative look, go for accessories that look clean and pretty, but not too bold. Pearls, small earrings, and tasteful necklaces or bracelets come to mind, as do shoes that are more conservative like black Patent leather heals or ballerinas. If you have diamonds, make them shine their best on the black background. This is a good look for work.
- Make your LBD look trendy. For a trendier look, go for a fun shoe that has a stiletto heel, and some bigger, bolder jewelry, like a statement necklace. This is a good look for cocktail parties or dinner.
- Put together a funky look with your LBD. To funk up your LBD, add a lot of color, like a metallic shoe, or some neon stockings. This is a good look for younger women getting ready to attend a trendy gallery opening or to make an appearance at a new club.
Choose Your Jewels
Jewelry can help convey many different moods and styles, and the LBD is the perfect canvas for all your jewelry.
- Wear big earrings with your LBD. Sometimes earrings are all you need, and if this is the case, pick a big and bold pair. Dangly, Hoops, or Studs can all work, as long as they make a statement. This is not the time for anything dainty, and remember to wear your hair up to make the earrings known.
- Pair your LBD with a statement necklace. A bold necklace adds instant pizzazz to a LBD. If you want something more conservative, go for more classic colors like silver, black, or pearls. For something a little funkier, pick a necklace with chunky stones and more color.
- Put on a great watch to accent your LBD. Try a men’s-inspired (aka big) watch with your LBD. A watch is also classic enough to be conservative yet cool enough to be trendy.
- Break out the bold bracelets. Try stacking a few great bracelets together, and don't be afraid to play with color here.
- Add a brooch to your LBD. Adding a broach to an LBD is a great, more conservative way to accessorize. You could choose a vintage broach, or pair the dress with something more modern like a button-inspired brooch or even a brooch made of ribbons or feathers.
Pick Your Shoes
A great way to style your LBD is with your shoes.
- Wear boots or booties with your LBD on cooler days. A flat boot or a bootie will give more of a downtown ‘cool look’ to your LBD. Higher-heeled boots and ankle boots will add a little more polish, but will still keep the ensemble looking cool.
- Pair your LBD with some flats. Flats are always great for keeping an outfit casual yet sophisticated at the same time. Pick a flat with a little embellishment on it to add some excitement and pair it with your brooch, or consider a pair of conservative loafers to match with your men’s-inspired watch.
- Pick some conservative heels to wear with your LBD. A shoe with a lower heel (3” or below) in a neutral color like a nude or black is great for keeping your look conservative but still polished. This is a great type of shoe to wear with a pearl necklace.
- Wear fun heels to liven up your LBD. To really dress up your LBD, pick a stiletto heel in a fun color or style. Experiment with heel shape and height, color, and embellishment.
Dress Up Your Legs
A great way to stay warm in the winter and stylish in your LBD is by throwing on a pair of tights or stockings, which come in a multitude of colors.
- Wear black tights to create a sophisticated, classy, and conservative look.
- Put on a pair of brown, nude or gray stockings with your LBD. Neutral tights or stockings are just as conservative as black, but are just a little less edgy.
- Experiment with colorful stockings. Other colored tights, such as purple, orange, or even bright red can look great, but are probably better suited for a cocktail party or a night out than to wear during the day to the office. If you don’t work in a conservative setting though, give this option a try.
Pick a Handbag
A handbag can help dress up or tone down an LBD, depending on the type.
- Wear a larger shoulder or handbag with your LBD. One of these larger bags is perfect for everyday use, as you can just throw all your essentials in it – even your lunch. Neutral colors are great because you can wear them each day of the week without needing to transfer the contents of your purse each time you switch outfits but if you want to spruce up your ensemble, pick a handbag in a fun color like pink or red. You could also pair your bag with an accessory you love wearing with your LBD. For example, if you always wear your grandmother’s citrine brooch with your dress, find a large shoulder bag in yellow to match.
- Accessorize your LBD with a cross-body bag. A cross-body bag is a little more bohemian, and perfect for a night out or to wear to an edgy party.
- Grab a clutch to go with your LBD. A clutch handbag, though small, is the most dressy or all purses, and perfect for the evening. Traditionally, etiquette dictated that women wore only clutches to evening engagements and left the straps at home. Choose a fun color or one with sequins to really jazz up your LBD.
Finish Your Look
Finish off your look by adding some sunglasses or throwing on a jacket or sweater if the weather requires one.
- Wear a button-down cardigan with your LBD. This is an ideal option if you want to bring an extra layer with you in case it gets cold.
- Wrap a pashmina around your shoulders to add color and warmth to your LBD.
- Add a scarf to your LBD. There are a variety of ways you can add a scarf to your LBD to dress it up as well as to add versatility to your ensemble. Consider wearing an Hermes scarf with your LBD.
- Add a pair of sunglasses to finish off the look. You can either pick a more conservative pair of black sunglasses to wear with your LBD during the daytime, or choose a style that is more ‘in the now’ like one with white rims or in a green or purple hue.
Tips
- Whatever look you go for and however you accessorize, just keep true to your personal style.
Things You’ll Need
- Little black dress
- Various Jewelry
- Shoes
- Handbag
- Sunglasses
- Outerwear
