V A is a long standing and recognised digital creative; her voice resonates with many. In the last ten years, the site has developed into an online destination for fashion, beauty and lifestyle advice. Her sense of style, editorial flair and practical counsel offers an inspired and graceful approach to living.

V A is a long standing and recognised digital creative; her voice resonates with many. In the last ten years, the site has developed into an online destination for fashion, beauty and lifestyle advice. Her sense of style, editorial flair and practical counsel offers an inspired and graceful approach to living.

Edit by: Vicki
Mar 08, 2018

Style Notes: Re-Inventing The Little Black Dress

Re-Inventing The Little Black Dress on vickiarcher.com

Re-Inventing The Little Black Dress on vickiarcher.com


  1. 1. jennifer behr barette ||  2. lulu frost earrings  ||  3. roxanne assoulin bracelets  ||  4. malone souliers flats
  2. 5. beck jewels rose earrings  ||  6. nicholas kirkwood flats  ||  7. rose assoulin bracelet  ||  8. bounkit rose quartz drops
  3. 9. kiera tote  ||  10. bibi marini primrose earrings  ||  11. mara & mine lucky slippers  ||  12. Smythson Panama Mini


What’s to re-invent?

The little black dress must be the most popular standby outfit of all.

It is in my wardrobe.


Black dresses never seem to be too many and neither do I tire of them. What constantly surprises me is how I can fall in love with so many “different” black dresses. I promise myself to re-invent the lbd in another colour and while navy and the neutrals are good, they aren’t quite the same. They fall into a different category; I love them but they are different. I wear them but not in the same way.


The constancy and reliability of the little black dress got us thinking about the ways we can re-invent them. Why not with colour? Don’t change the dress; change what we wear with it.



We went through the colours that work and decided the obvious is to mix a little gold with the black. That’s a no-brainer, forever and always. I love the nude pinks with black and what about the reds? Whether it’s swapping the black clutch for a red or wearing long ear dangles in the ballet shades – it makes the tried and true lbd look different.


What about stacks of gold bracelets or jewel tones on each wrist?

The only rule I stick to is, more is more when it comes to these types of bracelets. Bracelets can make such a great impact and they are one of the ways we can “save” in our dressing philosophy. When travelling a little black dress is the perfect companion but it can be dull to wear the same dress night after night – throw the colourful accessories in the suitcase and create a new look. Bracelets are one of those “have fun with” accessories and I wear them a lot when I want to make a statement. Funnily its the one accessory I do get many compliments on.


Drop earrings, especially colourful ones, are an easy way to re-invent our lbd. The same can be said for shoes of a different shape and shade. We don’t need to wear black with black and all black with a colourful mule or heel can also change the look right up.


Today I am introducing Moda Operandi, another fabulous online resource to find out the latest and greatest in fashion. Moda Operandi has wonderful editorial articles, they arrange online trunk shows and take pre-orders on those pieces you have seen but don’t know where to buy. Their curating of designers is superb and for special occasion dressing, it’s my first stop.


I needed the inspiration to re-invent an exiting black dress for a dinner I’m attending tomorrow night and that’s how I got enmeshed in their world of colourful accessories.


You’ll get lost, I promise. xv




Style Notes: Re-Inventing The LBD

  1. jennifer behr barette  ||  lulu frost earrings ||  roxanne assoulin bracelets ||  malone souliers flats
  2. beck jewels rose earrings ||  nicholas kirkwood flats

  3. rose assoulin bracelet  ||  bounkit rose quartz drops ||  kiera tota  ||  bibi marini earrings  ||  mara & mine slippers  ||  smythson panama mini



  4. Thank you ShopStyle for Sponsoring, “Style Notes; Re-Inventing The Little Black Dress”.

  5. images, dior archives 1958,  howell t. conant, walde huth (1950), jean baptiste mondino
Edit by: Vicki
In This Post: Fashion , Shopping Stories