The Little Black Dress (LBD) is one of the most versatile and stylish pieces a woman can own. It can be worn to work or out on the town, depending on how you accessorise it. Things like jewellery or shoes can make a big difference in how an LBD looks.

Jewellery

Create a conservative look with your LBD. For a conservative look, go for accessories that look clean and pretty, but not too bold. Pearls, small earrings, and tasteful necklaces or bracelets come to mind, as do shoes that are more conservative like black Patent leather heals or ballerinas. If you have diamonds, make them shine their best on the black background. This is a good look for work.

Make your LBD look trendy. For a trendier look, go for a fun shoe that has a stiletto heel, and some bigger, bolder jewelry, like a statement necklace. This is a good look for cocktail parties or dinner.

Wear big earrings with your LBD. Sometimes earrings are all you need, and if this is the case, pick a big and bold pair. Dangly, hoops, or studs can all work, as long as they make a statement. This is not the time for anything dainty; and remember to wear your hair up to make the earrings known.

Pair your LBD with a statement necklace. A bold necklace adds instant pizzazz to a LBD. If you want something more conservative, go for more classic colours like silver, black, or pearls. For something a little funkier, pick a necklace with chunky stones and more colour.

Break out the bold bracelets. Try stacking a few great bracelets together, and don’t be afraid to play with color here.

Shoes

Wear boots or booties with your LBD on cooler days. A flat boot or a bootie will give more of a downtown ‘cool look’ to your LBD. Higher-heeled boots and ankle boots will add a little more polish, but will still keep the ensemble looking cool.

Pair your LBD with some flats. Flats are always great for keeping an outfit casual yet sophisticated at the same time. Pick a flat with a little embellishment on it to add some excitement and pair it with your brooch, or consider a pair of conservative loafers to match with your men’s-inspired watch.

Wear fun heels to liven up your LBD. To really dress up your LBD, pick a stiletto heel in a fun colour or style. Experiment with heel shape and height, colour, and embellishment.

Handbags

Wear a larger shoulder or handbag with your LBD. One of these larger bags is perfect for everyday use, as you can just throw all your essentials in it – even your lunch. Neutral colors are great because you can wear them each day of the week without needing to transfer the contents of your purse each time you switch outfits but if you want to spruce up your ensemble, pick a handbag in a fun colour like pink or red.

Grab a clutch to go with your LBD. A clutch handbag, though small, is the most dressy or all purses, and perfect for the evening. Traditionally, etiquette dictated that women wore only clutches to evening engagements and left the straps at home. Choose a fun colour or one with sequins to really jazz up your LBD.

Finish the look

Wear a button-down cardigan with your LBD. This is an ideal option if you want to bring an extra layer with you in case it gets cold.

Wrap a pashmina around your shoulders to add colour and warmth to your LBD.

Add a pair of sunglasses to finish off the look. You can either pick a more conservative pair of black sunglasses to wear with your LBD during the daytime, or choose a style that is more ‘in the now’ like one with white rims or in a green or purple hue.

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