Oh we do love to tackle the hottest of hot topics around here.
Wardrobe topics, that is.
Now, there is no denying the timeless power of the LBD – the Little Black Dress.
It started with Chanel in 1926 and US Vogue calling that particular dress “a sort of uniform for all women of taste”.
That “sort of uniform” is one that women continue to embrace. The appeal is the LBD’s elegant simplicity.
As soon as you put it on, you immediately feel dressed UP.
A LBD can take you to work. It can take you to lunch, to drinks or a casual catch-up with friends.
It can be reinvented every time you wear it just by changing up the shoes you wear or the accessories you add.
But what about the LWD – the Little White Dress?
The LDBs vs LWDs question is one that I’ve been asking myself a lot of late.
The Little White Dress was EVERYWHERE in Europe this past summer (did that amazing holiday actually happen? The photo magnets on the fridge tell me it did so it must be so).
Every shop window I walked past, every shop I went into, on women walking the streets … if the LWD wasn’t already on my wardrobe radar, it was firmly imprinted as a “thing” and I carried that thought through to our own spring/summer.
I’m not one who gets scared about wearing white.
Even though I’m like a magnet for stray food and beverage substances – I have superior laundry and stain-removing skills.
I shouldn’t boast but I do because it’s a skill that enables me to embrace the yang to my LBD yin.
See, if you line up a LBD and a LWD in summer and make me choose, I just can’t.
The fancy, sleek LBD vs the fresh, crisp LWD?
Both are dress-up and dress-down-able. Both make a statement in their simplicity. Both are blank canvases for adding accessories to show your wardrobe personality.
Give me both.
Left: Bohemian Traders Sunlace Day dress $189; Surafina Moreno clutch/cross-body bag $169; Ruby Olive bangles $35; ZK Jump platform sandals $159
Right: Sacha Drake Column Drape reversible dress $229; The Adorn Collective Carrie necklace $50
The LBD above came with me to Europe and proved to be the perfect travel companion. Hello, fuss-free, no-iron style.
There’s a clever something, something in the design too. Under the arms, is “extra” fabric that hides this area by draping over it.
I love that you can wear it with the V at the front or the back for two completely different looks.
You can also change the look of the dress by simply leaving off the belt or tying it in a different place.
Oh and bra lovers unite! You can wear your regular bra with this.
The LWD above is a new fave. Expect to see me wearing it a lot when my new one arrives in the post, bought for me by my mate Smaggle.
She wore mine last weekend for her Little Blog Big workshop, fell for it’s shape-loving ways and promptly took it back to Melbourne with her (you can check Smaggle out in it here).
Yes. Melbourne. Australian home of the LBD.
I would rest my LWD case there but I do need to also tell you that the shift style is supremely flattering.
It has fabulous shape and is lined so no extra under-garments are required to retain one’s dignity.
Love the feature back too. It comes down low but not so low that you can’t wear a normal bra.
Shop both the LBD and LWD in the Summer 2015 Styling You Shop.
So tell me … LBDs vs LWDs? Where do you stand on this hot wardrobe topic?
Styling You Shop gift with purchase
Throughout the month of the shop, spend $250 in one transaction and you’ll receive a pair of Ruby Olive resin stud earrings valued at $22. One set of earrings per customer. Earrings will posted at the end of the shop period, from December 3 onwards.
Win
Share your Summer 2015 Styling You Shop purchase on Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #stylingyoushop (please tag @stylingyou as well) and you will be in the running to win a $250 voucher to spend in the Autumn-Winter 2016 Styling You Shop. Entries close when the shop closes, December 3. The winner will be judged on creativity and originality. She’ll be notified via Instagram or Facebook and her name will appear here.
Comments 23
LWD & LBD both look gorgeous, I love both, thank you for sharing!!!
xxx
http://www.noragouma.com
Loving the LWD!! I am so glad to see Melbourne girls embracing more colour and even heading to the other end of the spectrum with some bright whites!
I am TOTALLY biased about the versatility and slimming effects of a good LBD but just love the freshness of an LWD too!
I’m a fan of both. LBD works all year round and LWD is beautiful for the summer 🙂
I’ll always go for the LBD because it’s slimming. I do love that white sunlace dress though!
Di from Max The Unicorn
I have never been game enough to wear the LWD I am scared of white! I think my Mum told me years ago it washes me out so I never tried. LWD looks so summery so I think I need to go there!
I also noticed a lot of very stylish European women wearing LWD in Europe as well … sadly I’ll never look as lovely as my European sisters but I think its time I embraced the LWD also love it with the tan accessories.
Just conducted a little audit and I found three LWDs in my wardrobe! As opposed to just one LBD!! So that’s me. LWD all the way and I agree with you – I don’t let white scare me off 🙂 xo
I had completely written off the LWD for me, because you know… is white but after seeing you and Carly in it, I think Im being swayed to the white side! You both look fantastic, I love that back V feature x
I love both crisp white with tan accessories on a summers day is just gorgeous but the Lbd has its place too instantly looking elegant and dressy,great post Nikki Xx
Oh you had me for both at wear your normal bra!
For mine, I don’t think that the white one has the ability to be as dressed up as the black but for my situation 2 kids at home, I would feel overdressed in the black. So white for me!
Loving the fresh newness of the white dress, but it needs to be either ivory or cream rather than bright white to work on me.
So many versions of white out there – like a paint shop! I’m lucky I can get away with both white and ivory.
I have always gone the LBD route but am wanting to try the LWD. It looks so fresh for Summer. I am loving the sleeves on the Bohemian Traders one in your shop – why aren’t there more dresses with sleeves available for Summer? My only concern is the length of the LWD. Is it long enough for taller girls? I am 176cm tall and am holding back on the LWD as I am unsure if the length will be an exercise in hiding my knickers every time I sit down.
Hi Rach, I understand your concern! I asked my friend Smaggle what height she is and she’s 172cm. Here’s a photo of her wearing my LWD https://www.instagram.com/p/9xMjxYIYl3/ … so it would be slightly shorter on you.
good morning nikki!
I wonder where I stand on this hot topic hun???
they both look hot, or cool I should say, for summertime!
and both styles look fab on both of you!
enjoy your day! love m:)X
LOL! I KNOW where you stand M x
I just love LBD a little more than white only for the fact that I love a LBD styled with a pair of stylish sandals with a little gold bling and perfection. A lovely styled look for every occasion. A LWD is adored too but not as much as black. V x
You work a LBD so well V x
I will forever adore the way my LBD’s make me feel when I’m stuck on what to wear. But in saying that, my wardrobe already has 2 gorgeous Bohemian Traders LWD’s hanging in it, which I love wearing.
Nah, just can’t choose! x
We shouldn’t have to choose! You work both so well x
I love white, and that dress is lovely. I love black too, and have worn the Surafina dress from your last shop a lot. One of my friends saw my ZK sandals when they were delivered to work, and promptly got me to order her a pair! Can’t wait to wear them 🙂
Oh that’s wonderful Kathryn! At least she didn’t steal yours!! x