The Classic Ten: The LBD

Yes, I'm aware it's St. Patrick's Day. At the risk of offending the Irish, I'm not all that inspired by green fashion at the moment (environmentally friendly, yes, the color forced upon people with the threat of physical violence should they refrain, no). My anti-establishment mood fits in perfectly with the color I'd rather talk about. The mysterious. The mature. The sexy black.

I picked up Nancy MacDonell Smith's The Classic Ten, The True Story of the Little Black Dress and Nine Other Fashion Favorites at my local library and I must say, Smith is whole new breed of novelist. She's a refined cross between cultural anthropologist, historian, and contemporary fashion journalist. As former Fashion News/Features Director at Nylon magazine, Smith sure has the "eye" for style and an authoritative take on the classics. 

The true story of the classic ten reads with all the accuracy and accompanying timelines as my high school AP History textbook, without leaving behind all the flare and star studded personality of an upbeat exposé in Harper's Bazaar.

Let's take a look at two of the most famous LBDs in fashion and pop culture history Smith highlights in her novel.

Givenchy designed the infamous LBD worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 classic Breakfast at Tiffany's. The positively iconic gown was auctioned off at Christie's in December 2006. The winner took home the legendary LBD for just under $1 million. The profit was donated to City of Joy Aid, a charity that helps underprivileged children in India.

Elizabeth Hurley's Versace safety-pin LBD skyrocketed her from "nice English girl" to "smoldering sexpot." She donned the dress on Hugh Grant's arm at the 1994 premier of Four Weddings and a Funeral in London.

Ah, black. It symbolizes the end of a girl's childhood, that day she dons her first little black dress. It has the power to "isolate the wearer's uniqueness," often the backdrop for drama. It is worn exclusively for one year and one day at the onset of mourning. It says, via Chanel, "modernity, streamlined practicality, quiet, self-assured sexiness." It is the abandonment of convention. It has been uniform to the likes of French Vogue Editor in Chief Corinne Roitfeld and city mice worldwide.

For a more exhaustive look at the color black and the history of the LBD, order The Classic Ten at Amazon.com for only $11.20 here: http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Ten-Little-Fashion-Favorites/dp/0142003565. Or rent it for free at your local library. (Clearly the better choice for every recessionista out there. Holla.)

From the archives: one LBD that made history in Viva Las Vegas, circa summer '08.

Stay tuned for Smith's Classic Number Two: The Suit. Be so anti today. Wear black (never before noon, of course).

International Lip Service

My first stop when I landed in London last month was Topshop. Literally, my first stop. I didn't even bother waiting for the bellhop to deliver my bags to my hotel room. I traded in my dollars for pounds and hit the street. A short walk from The Crowne Plaza, St. James stands one of the UK's 300 Topshop retail outlets. 

I made a beeline for the sale section, in hopes of filling my arms with as many pounds of Topshop apparel I could carry, for as little pounds as possible. As I scanned and slid each hanging treasure behind its former, I stopped when I spotted this printed party dress.

Immediately I could picture Patricia Field hand selecting this print for one of Carrie Bradshaw's quirky outfits. I had to have it. It was speaking to me, saying, "I'm one of a kind. I turn heads. Bring me home to the states and I'll make you the envy of everyone who sees me. I'll spice up your post graduate wardrobe with a hint of youthful flirtation. And I mean, hello, February 14th is right around the corner. If not then, when?"

For a bargain, I invited the flirty frock to make the voyage with me overseas. I donned it for my sister's 25th birthday party in SF. I balanced its overtly feminine print with a grey three quarter leather bomber. The corseted strapless was a smashing success. Plenty of attitude with a hint of risk. 

To my delight, my dress was featured in the February issue of Nylon, the holy grail of hip fashion magazines. 

Each month, Nylon features a pile of newsworthy themed goodies. The contents of this mythical Mary Poppins' bag are sprawled across the last page of the magazine to leave the readers with a lingering taste of eye candy, and in this case, some Hershey kiss candy. This month, my Topshop lip print dress is featured in "Bag Check." I knew this dress wasn't lying to me when it said it promised to be the life of the party, as well as the page. 

And that's no empty lip service.