LONG LIVE THE LBD

Last year the LBD was voted the top must-have for every woman's wardrobe.  Originally made popular by Coco Chanel, the Little Black Dress was intended to be long-lasting, neutral, versatile, affordable and flattering to the widest possible number of women.  Beloved for its slimming, curve-enhancing properties the Little Black Dress or LBD has earned its place in the lexicon.

Dress it Up......Dress it Down

It’s an oft-quoted rule of fashion that we should all own a simple, elegant black dress able to be dressed up or down for all manner of occasions.  Being a timeless wardrobe staple, the styling should be as simple and timeless as possible – anything too clearly aligned with a current fashion trend would soon date. What the dress lacks in trendiness it should make up for in flattering detail and timeless elegance.

A Man's Favourite Outfit

George at Asda have just completed research which suggests black is perceived as the most timeless and versatile colour, with 8/10 surveyed saying they’d spend money on black clothing before anything else. And the same researchers discovered an LBD may actually be the best way to impress your mate.  ¾ of men questioned said an LBD was their favourite outfit.  On a woman that is!

Not only is the LBD a woman’s best friend, it’s the perfect buy in these cash strapped times.  Says Fiona Lambert, brand director for George "Customers want classic lines that they can wear for longer and impulse buys are becoming a thing of the past as the nation moves further away from disposable fashion to something more durable."

So where can you find the perfect LBD?  Our Fashion Editor has selected her top picks for party season 2008……..