How to Accessorize a Little Black Dress

The little black dress is an iconic figure in fashion, and with good reason. It can be dressed up for a party, dressed down for work and worn for virtually every occasion in between. As any good fashionista knows, however, no outfit is complete without accessories. The jewelry, shoes and hosiery you wear along with your dress can dramatically alter the look. Standout accessories can also turn a classic piece into a trendy statement.

Jewelry
For a classic look, stick with understated and elegant pieces like pearls, diamond or cubic zirconia studs and single ring. Coco Chanel recommended taking off at least one piece of jewelry before leaving the house, and women who want a classic look should heed this advice. Classic looking accessories are now readily available at bargain basement prices. Cubic zirconia studs, lab-created pearls and faux gemstone rings are available at many department stores for less than twenty dollars. This classic look is perfect for funerals, work functions and job interviews.

If you’re hitting the night clubs or headed to a first date, jewelry can turn your basic dress into a trendsetting look. Try brightly colored, oversized necklaces, a vintage-style cocktail ring and long drop earrings. Blue, yellow and red look especially good with black. Beware of over-accessorizing. If your earrings are banging into your necklace and your ring interferes with your ability to dig through your purse, you’re wearing too much.

Hosiery
You can never go wrong with sheer black stockings and if you’re going to a job interview or another occasion that requires modesty, black hosiery is the only correct choice. Avoid fishnets, opaque tights, patterned hosiery and anything with a seam in the back. For a touch of sexiness underneath your dress, try wearing lace-topped thigh highs.

For a trendier look, avail yourself of the cornucopia of colored and patterned tights that have been available for several seasons. Bright red tights are perfect for holiday parties, and floral patterned tights look great for a first date. Patterned and colored tights tend to make a dress look less formal, which means you can wear a slightly dressier dress.

Shoes
Black goes with anything and you can choose virtually any shoe with a little black dress. This does not, however, mean that all shoes are right for all occasions. Stick with black, closed-toe pumps for conservative environments such as work parties and funerals. Red pumps can also look great with a little black dress if you work in a younger, more relaxed office.

For other occasions, the shoe world is truly your oyster. Patterned and multicolored shoes were made for the little black dress and are perfect for a night out with the girls. Closed-toe flats will dress down the look for a shopping trip or family reunion.

Knee-high boots create clean lines and a trendy look without turning you into a fashion victim, but ankle boots and gladiator sandals can make your legs look shorter.

When shopping for accessories for your little black dress, don’t overlook vintage stores and homemade goods found on websites like etsy. These venues provide unique pieces at affordable prices so you can look stylish without going bankrupt.