I love wearing dresses. They are a little more forgiving than pants, especially if you’re curvy like me. And there is nothing like the Little Black Dress (LBD). It’s every woman’s secret weapon. Black is my favorite color to wear, because it’s sleek, sexy, and sophisticated (think Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s), and with the right fit can take five pounds off you like that (SNAP!). You can dress it up or down and it goes with EVERY other color so you can never make a mistake.
My 7 tips to rock a LBD:
1. Spanx, a good bra, and an even better attitude. Because, really, who cares?! Repeat after me, “I’m sexy and I know it!” (Confidence is S.E.X.Y.)
2. Find the right fit and a good tailor. Sometimes I buy a size larger, because much of the fashion is too short now and I’m too old to dress like a toddler.
3. Show a little skin. Don’t be buttoned up to here (pointing to chin) and don’t be unbuttoned to there (pointing to naval). Only J.Lo can get away with that. Don’t have tons of cleavage and a lot of leg showing. Pick one.
4. I prefer bias-cut, A-line, or wrap dresses. They seem to hide a multitude of sins, as my mother likes to say, and showcase my best assets. (It’s all smoke and mirrors, baby.) Go shopping with a trusted friend who has good taste and the good sense not to let you walk out of the dressing room looking like Snookie.
5. Wedges are fabulous and comfy. They are a high heel lovin’ gal’s best friend, however, nothing elongates the legs like a sleek stiletto.
6. Accessories are important. And yes, a good rack can be a fine accessory, but I’m referring to a great pair of dangling earrings or a chunky necklace. Again, I go with less is more and would pick one or the other. Usually, I prefer wearing one or two shiny delicate necklaces and hoop earrings.
7. Pick your best feature and focus some attention on that. Maybe it’s your hair, eyes or lips. When it comes to makeup, I like to highlight my eyes and soften my mouth. The idea is to look pretty, not scary.
Keep it classy. Keep it sexy. Now go rock it!
Little black dresses never go out of style! I haven’t tried Spanx yet — but maybe I should heed your advice!
Pauline I’ve seen you and you don’t qualify for spanx, lucky girl 😉
I agree. She doesn’t need Spanx. Lucky Gal.
I love wearing dresses too… but after the babies, things certainly change. I agree, always keep it classy!
Omg, yes, EVERYTHING changed!
You rock that little black dress, mama! My favorite is “confidence is S.E.X.Y” cause it is!
That’s right Suzanne! Rock it!
Thanks for the reminder to pay attention to the details – jewelry, make up, heels, alterations. I’m always in such a rush that something is usually forgotten.
I’m always in a rush too, so lately I’m trying to give myself an extra few minutes to plan my outfit. Let’s see how long that lasts 😉
I love black dresses, especially with my “mommy body” they are the BEST!
Navy works well too!
I’ve always been a fan of a 50’s style dress because it complimented my figure. Now that I’ve carried twins, my waist is nowhere near as small as it used to be so I have to tweak things a little, but I’m still a fan of the LBD. And A big thumbs up to SPANX. I even wore them on my wedding day. LOL!
Love 50’s style dresses!
CG: I need you! Nowadays, I feel like designers are purposefully making dresses to make me feel bad about myself! Or maybe it was the dark chocolate stash I’ve been working on that’s done that to me. In any case, I’ll just borrow a bit of your confidence right now and pray it gets me through:)
Sometimes I don’t feel all that confident but I pretend…You know what they say, “Fake it until you make it.”
You and I are fashion kindreds. Although I did add a pair of leopard-spot peep toes (with a bright red pedi!) to my LBD this year, and I never felt sexier!
Oooh, that does sound sexy! I love a bright color or animal print shoe (or bag) with black or navy.
I pray to the spandex Gods every time I need to squeeze into an LBD!. God Bless Spanx!
What did we ever do without it?!
I can’t believe I’m almost 40 and I’m just now discovering the benefits of a good tailor. Very, very important detail. It can make or break so many different clothing items we wear. Thanks for pointing that out to anyone else who hasn’t discovered that little secret yet!!!
I just discovered this myself, and I’ve got a few more rings around my tree than you do, so don’t feel bad.
I love this!!!
Thanks, Mia!
I nodded my head and chuckled the entire time I read this post! I so agree, women past the age of 4 shouldn’t dress like toddlers yet I see it on a daily basis here in LA. Great timeless and true advice. Btw, what tailor do you recommend?
Thanks, Sarah! Frank Young Tailors on Pico Blvd. (just east of Beverly Drive) is very good.
Saw you on Finding the Funny. Love the blog. You are so right about feeling sexy and projecting confidence. I just need to get a good LBD and I will be ready to rock it.
Thanks, Christie! You go girl!
I’m glad someone said it. You can be sexy and classy without showing all the business. Paying attention to the smallest of details will bring that LBD all together.
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
Thanks, Stesha! Yes, it’s all in the details. Hugs to you too!
I love wearing dresses, mainly ’cause I fit in them even when my weight fluctuates – pants are just far too unforgiving!
Totally agree!
Love this!!
Thanks Robin!
Excellent tips. I too am a firm believer that ‘Less is More!’
Thank you! Yes, I think you can’t go wrong with that.
Very timely for me, Linda. (And a great post!) I am looking for some dresses because this year is a busy one. But I need dresses with sleeves, and most are sleeveless. I love your advice, and will take it. First stop: Nordstrom’s for another bra fitting. Time to get my girls in better shape! Hahaha!.
Great advice! My absolute favorite bras are from Soma. They do a really good professional fitting too.
I love dresses, but they rarely fit. Where do you find a good tailor? I do not know anyone who uses one, so asking around would be useless.
I live for my spanx. Every shape, color and full body, half body and 1/4 body. And, the LBD has overrun my closet. I can’t seem to veer away from it to another color. Although, now that I think about it, I can’t remember the last time I put on a dress…..
The best advice here “The idea is to look pretty, not scary.” I need to have mine altered…it is too big! WOW!
b+
All good advice, but I really should learn how to apply my makeup. I still have no idea what I’m doing, even after 35+ years of wearing it!
Love the idea of Spanx but the reality is it just pushes the fat up or down and leaves a different kind of bulge. Big fan of the LBD especially wrap dresses!