4 Make Do & Mend Ideas to Update The Little Black Dress

There's New Life in the Old Girl Yet! *

Madra Lord, circa 1943

Monolithic Studios' star Miss Madra Lord updates the basic black dress with a belted, blue and black herringbone wool jerkin. The mustard felt topper and matching black and mustard suede color-blocked gauntlet gloves provide a pop of color to this smart ensemble. OOAK jerkin, hat, and gloves are from The Couture Touch. Shoes and belt are from Integrity. Purse is from Robert Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection. Black Widow Madra Lord, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake. 

Australian Women's Weekly
 July 31, 1943

Here are 3 more ideas to transform a black dress by adding colorful add-on pieces. From left to right: A green bolero vest and matching waist-wrap and hat. A red collar overlay that is gathered in the front and secured with a matching belt; topped with a coordinating tilt hat. A bright yellow bolero with a yoke effect with matching hat and gloves.


Click HERE for more on the inspiration behind the original "Little Black Dress" costume designed by Tim Kennedy for Ashton Drake's 2000 Gene Marshall Collection.

* Excerpt from Make and Mend For Victory, Book No.S-10, The Spool Cotton Co., 1942.

3 Reasons I Love Dark Desire's LBD

Madra Lord Dark Desire from Ashton Drake
Photo courtesy immafiercecreature.blogspot.com

1. Style - This circa 1942 tailored dress is exceptionally well-cut and well made. I love the front asymmetric banding and pleat detailing. The dress includes padded shoulders, a round neckline, and 3/4" sleeves.

Butterick 5281 dress pattern, circa 1940's

2. Color - Don't we all have at least one little black dress in our wardrobe? In 1926 American Vogue published a fashion illustration of a simple black, crepe de chine dress designed by Coco Chanel. A month later, French Vogue declared it the "uniform of the modern woman". The concept was perhaps a little ahead of its time, and it wasn't until a decade later that the "little black dress" became a popular phrase in advertising with major department stores heralding it as the piece of clothing a modern woman "can't live without".

Chanel's 1926 "Ford" dress
Photo courtesy onthisdayinfashion.com

Chanel did not "invent" the LBD. A year earlier the New York Times mentioned a "particular smart model" from Lanvin, "a dinner dress built of black satin with no trimming". In 1916 the English magazine, The Queen, used the phrase "little black satin dress", and as early as 1902 Henry James describes "a little black frock" in The Wings of a Dove. The LBD was around before Chanel's crepe de chine number appeared in Vogue, but she told us to wear it, and so we did. - Ali Basye, On This Day In Fashion.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, 1939
Fox Photos, Getty Images
Courtesy realsimple.com

The style and color lends itself nicely to the 3rd reason I love this dress....

3. Versatility - Accessories are the perfect way to change the look of a basic black dress. They can include everything from shoes and hats to collars, belts, and jewelry. Over the past few years I have shown this dress with a variety of looks. Here are 2 more:

Gene Marshall accessorizes the LBD with a belted blue and black wool herringbone jerkin and matching gauntlet gloves from The Couture Touch. The lace jabot is from Ashton Drake's earlier "Little Black Dress" costume. The over-sized breton hat is from Robert Tonner's Par Excellence suit ensemble. Oxford shoes are from Integrity. J'Adore Gene Marshall is the FDQ Exclusive BJD doll from Mel Odom and JamieShow. Miss Marshall's restyled wig cap is from Phoenix Gene.

The LBD takes a dramatic turn courtesy of a black and white striped turban with attached scarf from The Couture Touch. The gloves are original to Dark Desire. The white fur muff from A Touch of Hospitality has been embellished with various trims. Brooch is from Ashton Drake and the black and white t-strapped shoes are from Tonner. A restyled Shadow Song Gene Marshall is from  Integrity.

Sources: onthisdayinfashion.com   realsimple.com