9 ways to repeat the same black dress (almost) every weekend...

Sounds like one of those style challenges, only thing is this isn’t. LBD (Little Black Dress) vs ND (New Dress). They collide. Too often. ND varies. Maxi. Midi. Statement print. Subtle bling. One shoulder. No shoulder. LBD remains the same. Three-quarter sleeves. Knee-length. Side knot. There’s competition till LBD swoops in and makes its move. Needless to say who wins the round.

If you, like the many women on this page, have LBD embedded in your style DNA, here are some things that will help you repeat and re-repeat and re-re-repeat your precious little dress effectively and effortlessly, party after party.

1 The right fit. When buying an LBD, buy what fits now (and will still fit after a boozy brunch), not what will fit once you knock off those kilos or once you start that diet. If the LBD fits well (without Spanx) in the trial room, then it will be THE dress you will wear forever.

2 And when you find THE LBD, buy two. Keep LBD 1 in wear-till-tear cycle. While LBD 2 lies happily ensconced in the loft.

3 Don’t stop at THE LBD. A woman can never have enough little black dresses. With so many styles out there (see what we’ve shopped, below), you need constant wardrobe update. Scan the shop floors, try what you like. Online shoppers, track your fave websites regularly. Most e-stores have a special LBD section but don’t skip the other sections, lest you spot a heart-stopping maxi or dip hemline or lace or skater style.

4 Never underestimate a new beauty trick. It’s not just about a pop lipstick. It’s about mixing it up. Even if you begin with baby steps on your Urban Decay Naked Palette by choosing new neutrals, it’s a good start. If you like smokey eyes, venture beyond the classic. Add a bit of blue, go two shades rosier on the cheek or be bronzed differently. And yes, that lipstick is always a game-changer. Don’t forget the hair.

5 Accessorise. What they say about accessories making or breaking the outfit is true. Statement earrings, big necklace, tanked up bracelets or just a whopper of a ring that draws envious glances every time you raise your flute to sip some champagne. Winter allows you to layer, so wear that bejewelled jacket, Chantilly lace scarf or houndstooth leggings and boots.

6 Shoes + bags. Okay, shoes can’t make your LBD look that different, but it can make you feel different — a very important point. And bags are a great distracting tool — the exotic, the better, if you don’t want women to know you are re-repeating the LBD. As Kareena Kapoor famously said in her book, The Style Diary of a Bollywood Diva: “Bags are just arm candy to make other women jealous. No boyfriend ever says, ‘oh sweetheart, that bag really makes you look gorgeous today’.” So yes, bags will distract the girls’ attention from the dress. The guys — at least the straight ones — don’t care about the dress anyway.

7 Think destination. You have to repeat cleverly. It might be a bit hard to effectively repeat the same LBD at sit-down dinner parties, but dark nightclubs? Bring. It. On!

8 Get a fancy phone. And then use an app to change the LBD into a LR(ed)D or LW(hite)D! At least your social networking life will see colour. For once you won’t worry about Facebook dress deja vu!

9 Finally, make new friends. If all your current friends have seen your LBD too many times, time to make some new friends! And just when you thought you wouldn’t get more wear out of your LBD, a party in your new crowd just extended the life of your fave LBD!

these lovely ladies can’t do without their lbds

1. Kim Kardashian is known for choosing clothes that only accentuate her curves. And ranking high on her style must-haves are ripped jeans, high-waist skirts and, of course, the LBD. We like her best in her black classics and it looks like Kim likes herself best in them too! Be it a girls night out, an evening with family or a glamorous cocktail do, KK turns to her LBD. But certainly not without a slash here or a slit there. Drama is her middle name, remember?!

2. Angelina Jolie and black dresses have a long and lasting association. An occasional flash of right leg or not, this relationship is only getting stronger by the season. A black dress is testimony to the fact that Brad Pitt’s beautiful half loves all things quiet and frill-free. The sleeve length may change and sometimes the dress length changes too, but what remains constant is the colour black. And most often than not (including this time), it is an Atelier Versace.

3. Jennifer Aniston is best friends with her LBD. Day or night, dressed up or down, if it’s a non-denim day, it is an LBD day. The Friends star likes to keep her look low-key and what’s more chameleon-like than the LBD? It lets you blend in while standing out.

4. Karisma Kapoor is Bollywood’s LBD mascot. Her go-to fashion formula is simple and effective. Black bodycon + designer shoe + one statement accessory + haute hairdo. And boy, does it work!       

Shradha Agarwal

an lbd is an lbd is an lbd. WRONG! the t2 girl gang lists their four fave lbds. take your pick

Send us a picture of you in your fave LBD and tell us why you can’t live without it at t2@abp.in