hocus pocus

hi, friends!

hope you are all having a fabulous year so far. can’t believe it’s already march. time goes by so fast when you’re an adult, it’s actually quite sad. and what do we spend our time doing? before i go off on a tangent, though, let me redirect myself. this post features my version of the ubiquitous “little black dress.” and, i’m going to warn you, i styled this dress in a way that is very witchy, but of course, it was just an idea i had. it is definitely not the only way to wear a little black dress (i’m sure you realize this) and certainly not the only way to wear this particular dress. most of the witchiness stems from the spot where delaney and i photographed it, and from my poses. that was just the mood we were going for. in fact, i’ll be wearing it to an event tonight with much lighter styling in mind.

dress – for love & lemons; necklaces – considerthewldflwrs {1, 2, 3}; tights – nordstrom; boots – rag&bone {old, similar here}

the little black dress was established as a staple of modern fashion by none other than coco chanel (so legend has it, anyway). in the 1920s when fashion (and, really, society as a whole) began its renaissance, chanel ushered in many of the changes with her disregard for the structure and rules of so much of women’s dress. she traded corsets for trousers and chose simple jersey fabrication over the ostentatious silks and heavier textiles of the day. in the mid-20s, vogue ran a sketch of a chanel design featuring a simple black sheath dress worn with a strand of pearls, and the little black dress was born.

while many of you may realize that you ought to own a little black dress, you may or may not be aware of why. ultimately, the reason why every woman should have one is because of the piece’s versatility. thus, when choosing one, you need to keep that versatility in mind. the idea behind the lbd is that you should have a really great one in your closet that you can pull out when all else fails, and for a variety of occasions. don’t know what to wear to your best friend’s engagement party? a little black dress always works. have a date and didn’t have time to plan your look? look no further than your trusty black frock. in other words, the little black dress you choose should be a really great blank canvas that you can constantly reinvent with accessories and footwear based on the occasion, trends at the time, and your mood.

for me, this for love and lemons dress is a great lbd. initially i really wanted it in ivory, but i decided black was still a bit more versatile (don’t have to worry about being tan, or dealing with visible undergarments!). i’d had my eye on it for a while and when they had a quick sale, i snatched it up. i love the lace and the bell sleeves for some special detailing, and it definitely reads bohemian in a way that’s right up my alley. i wore it with tights and booties because it was cold, but it will look great dressed down with flat sandals or dressed up with something more strappy in the spring. i could also swap out the delicate layered necklace for something more statement-making, or throw on a denim vest and ankle boots to take it down even more.

the lesson to be learned here is that you don’t have to choose something too basic. make sure it’s still a reflection of your personality and style, or else you’ll get bored with it. if you tend to like modern or minimalist silhouettes, choose a sheath with a sleeve. if your style is more girly, choose something with a floatier fabrication or in a swingier shape, or maybe a lace piece. then, you can add even more personal touches by your accessories and shoes, and the other pieces you choose to pair with it.

➶ details ➴

rings from left to right: oar midi ring – considerthewldflwrs; crescent moon midi ring stack – considerthewldflwrs; sterling silver flourish ring – vintage; silver midi ring – judith bright; turquoise ring – vintage; rose gold midi ring – considerthewldflwrs; two-tone adjustable ring – considerthewldflwrs; opal ring – vintage.

bracelets left to right/top to bottom: blue wrap bracelet – chan luu {similar here}; gold link bracelet – nordstrom; feather bangle – alex and ahi; neutral wrap bracelet – chan luu {similar here}; silver link bracelet – david yurman