Living

#Trends2ways Chapter 3: Little Black Dress

by DANIELLE HARDER & TIFFANY RITZ December 11, 2014September 4, 2020

Calgary Journal living editors explore new and used in their hunt for staple fashion items

Some like it new.

Danielle has always been a “retail” shopper and purchases her clothes new. A student who works part-time, she usually tries to save up and splurge on herself from time to time. Danielle only spends the big bucks on staple wardrobe pieces. She also keeps her eyes open for large clearance sales once or twice a year.

Some like it used.

Tiffany hasn’t purchased anything new in years. A full-time student and young mom, she can’t always afford to keep up with every trend that the fashion industry deems essential. But she’s skilled at staying current by sourcing clothes on a budget in Calgary’s consignment and thrift stores.

Honouring the LBD

The little black dress seems to be the wardrobe staple that gets all the praise. It’s that one sought out item that never goes out of style, and is touted as a must have for every woman’s closet. The LBD comes in many different styles, and can be designed to fit to any body type. It can go from sophisticated daytime to a glammed up evening look in just moments — with the right accessorizing of course.

The LBD rose to popularity in the 1920s, when starlets and fashion icons took the basic black dress from drab to iconic. This is one piece worth the investment, as its versatility puts it to good use in almost any situation. Couture and designer dresses sell for anywhere from around $300 to sky’s the limit — depending on the quality of the fabric and the intricacy of the design.

This edition of #Trends2ways focused on finding high quality dresses. As a result, Tiffany’s consignment finds were priced higher than Danielle’s new purchases. The LBD is available new and used for as little as $40. But we also wanted to show that high-end pieces are well worth tracking down in consignment stores, such as Vespucci’s in southwest Calgary.