The Model and Me: Lounge Apparel spring-summer 2012-13

You know my thoughts on the Little Black Dress. I talked this wardrobe work horse up as part of this post.

But as regular Styling You commenter, Lisa Mackenzie, pointed out … black “makes me look old and sick” … her words not mine.

The fact is that black doesn’t look good on everyone. It works on most of us, yes, but not ALL of us.

Me? I get away with it because I go to great lengths every six weeks to keep my hair a shade of blonde it’s never ever naturally been. This provides me with the perfect contrast to enable my ongoing love of black frocks and tops.

Anyhoo, Lisa wanted some ideas on an alternative to the LBD and I immediately thought of the LND … or Little Navy Dress, the LBD’s less flashy cousin.

Enter stage left, this super simple navy silk crepe shift from Lounge Apparel*.

Here’s the model wearing it:

Lounge Apparel Petal Sleeve dress $179

Now, there are many shades of navy. Maybe not 50 but lots, all the same. This one’s on the lighter shade but I own others that are darker too.

All work incredibly as go-to, dress up/dress down frocks.

They get on with their wardrobe job – just like the LBD – but in a “kinder-on-the-skin-tone” way.

Here is me: look 1 (casual barbecue)

As worn with: Ruby and Olive necklace $45 | Zoe Kratzmann flats $210 | Uberkate earrings | Silver cuff (bought 4 years ago at Eve Boutique)

Here is me: look 2 (daytime summer wedding)

As worn with: Samantha Wills ring (bought last summer) | Salita Matthews necklace (bought last summer) | Italian heels (bought at a shoe store closing down sale four years ago)

I love the simplicity of this dress and I love that changing its look is as easy as changing my shoes and accessories.

It’s quite a thin fabric, so I’ve worked a black stretchy slip dress underneath to smooth things out to so to speak and to let the fabric skim and flow like it should.

If you’re not so keen as I am to wave my tuckshop arms in the air, check out this post for ideas … this dress really does lend itself to a cropped jacket or shrug.

I’m a big fan of working a navy frock back with a nude shoe for a bit of leg lengthening. A way better alternative to my attempts in the late ’80s and early ’90s to team my then extensive navy wardrobe with navy shoes. HELLO … mumsie in the making.

And if you’re wanting more ideas on which colours would “pop” a navy frock, B from B Being Cool has been styling up a storm on Polyvore.

Do you own a LND? Is this a style you can see yourself wearing? What would you wear it back with?

PS. My teenage daughter takes most of my outfit photos for me. Mr 7 clearly has been watching too many shoots as he’s got my posing down pat, don’t you think? Cheeky monkey.

* This Lounge Apparel dress, Ruby and Olive necklace and Zoe Kratzmann shoes were gifted to me for editorial consideration in accordance with my disclosure policy.