Stylish and Powerful Snowclone of Fashion

1926, a year which shadowed and overpowered the world of fashion, when Chanel introduced the LBD, famed to this day in various manifestations... ‘X is the new Black’ so they say. But in fact, what has ever beaten the empowerment of Black? Scientifically it is defined as the hueless, achromatic color, but to the eye it remains eternally mystical and noble on a silhouette, always making it sleek, or glam, or cute, or dangerous, any way one wants to use it. And that would be because the huelessness is what allows us to mould the color into various avatars, equivalent to the innumerous possibilities to be written upon a blank sheet of paper.

Hollywood enforced the image of the LBD in the 50s and 60s. In 1954, in the classic Hitchcock thriller, Rear Window, Grace Kelly wore a famed black dress.

(Left) Grace Kelly in ‘Rear Window’, 1954; (Right) Audrey Hepburn from ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, 1961

In 1961, Audrey Hepburn carried off the famed LBD from Givenchy in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which once again reinforced the fame of the dress immensely, as much as to be auctioned for charity at £467,200 recently in 2006. The attire of black could aid numerous children in India.

Rita Hayworth in ‘Gilda’, 1946

If Rita Hayworth could become the ultimate femme fatale image, it was solely due to the seductive black satin dress one-glove striptease from Gilda.

Well, and who said it is only in the form of a little dress that black should allure us? Dolce and Gabbana introduced the Black corset look, famed on Madonna with a cross necklace.

(Left) Madonna at the premiere of ‘Nine’ in New York City, 2009 ; (Right) Yves Saint Laurent Fall/winter 2010 Ready-to-Wear Show; (Centre) a representation of Diane Pernet with the poster of A shaded view on Fashion Film

YSL’s Fall 2010 RTW show’s favourite piece was the Black Silk Crepe Jumpsuit, with Black Gloves. Diane Pernet intensifies her mystical style with her all-in-black clothing, not to mention the black base of ASVOF.

And not forgetting the initiator of the black dress revolution, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel designed a Marienbad inspired collection for Spring 2011 RTW, with a ninja twist though. The last section of the show totally made one nostalgic of Delphine Seyrig’s clothes designed by Coco Chanel herself. Salute to the lady in black!

(Left) Chanel Spring 2011 RTW; (Right) Delphine Seyrig in ‘Last Year in Marienbad’, 1961