The $ensible Little Black Dress

by Hannah Walton aka The Cheapskate Mom

What To Wear? The Little Black Dress …..
If you are looking for something stylish, classy, and glamorous to wear – look no further than my personal favorite fashion must : the $ensible little black dress.

Form & Function
As a cheapskate, I am big into versatility : the versatile little black dress is the perfect marriage of form and function.  Black is a slimming color for everyone – and you really can pair any shoes and any kind of accessories with it depending on where you're going …. even a denim jacket and flats will look great for a date night at the movies!  For a more special occasion, there's no need to fret about what to wear or what earrings will match what print …. as long as you have a little black dress in your closet you can save the money and the stress of a last minute run to the store. Any hair style works with a simple black dress : up, down, Mohawk, whatever

Quality Over Quantity
Another reason why I love little black dresses is because I am big into quality…. I'm willing to spend more on one little black dress then buy something trendy that doesn't look or fit the way I want it to. I love knowing I have a quality black dress (that I can wear anywhere) in my closet that is both well made and fits like a glove : I honestly don't care about staying up to date in the latest prints so long as I look great and feel great about what I'm wearing (plus, I can pair the black dress with trendy accessories on the cheap). By spending my money on one dress instead of several, I can afford a higher quality dress: and I'd always rather spend more money on one item I'm going to wear over and over than having a few different dresses I'm going to wear once, not love, and file away in the back of my closet!

"When French designer Coco Chanel introduced her famous little black dress in 1926, Vogue magazine declared it was the fashion industry’s answer to the Model-T Ford" – Tom Parisi, Northern Illinois University, Women's History Month.

I wear black dresses everywhere (right now I own two) : It's my go-to for birthdays, fancy dinners, graduations, reunions, the supermarket (joking), funerals, holiday parties, and yes – weddings (most etiquette experts say that the little black dress is totally acceptable for evening weddings these days !). I've been known to wear a little black dress with red pumps and red lipstick for the holidays : very glamorous but not over the top (at least I don't think so…. ) .

Class Factor
The little black dress keeps you classy : there are no fashion faux pas to make when you are wearing your little black dress. You are making a fashion statement : timeless, elegant, and foxy. It's Hollywood's Go-To style for any event under the sun : think Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

As you probably know, I have a mini obsession with fashion designer and style guru Tim Gunn of Project Runway fame and he says ; " When I'm asked, 'What's the one wardrobe must-have?' this is it. It's unbeatable.". I take everything he says to heart because the man can dress and he can dress women well. I know, I'm obsessed

Where to Buy
If you are looking to buy a little black dress – and if you don't have one, buy one before you buy any other fashion item ! I recommend Spiegel's - their clothing is quality and they have an absolutely fantastic selection of little black dresses that are perfect for any event you've got coming up – and I love that they have different styles for different bodies. The rouched black dress is perfect for post-partum women like me who want to hide the extra belly fat – and the Ponte Knit Sheath Dress looks like it will flatter that troublesome hip area.

Conversation Starter:
What are your favorite fashion must-haves? Do they save you money?
 

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers!! I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”