7.8.10

Dear Melissa: (Modest) Little Black Dress

Q: “I’m going on a cruise to sunny Florida. There’s a dining room on the ship that’s very formal. Where can I find some modest, stylish black dresses, and the shoes and accessories to go with them?” – Maggie

A: Thanks for asking, Maggie! The little black dress should be a staple in every girl’s wardrobe, but it can be very hard to find one that is both modest and fashionable and one that reflects your personal style. It took a lot of research, but it is possible to find beautiful dresses that don't show too much skin.
It’s a basic rule of real-world fashion that your clothing should have balance, and this applies to black dresses as well. This means if the dress is a little short and sleeveless, you can balance it with a high neckline. Pair this with a fitted waist and you have a classic, timeless look that’s been mastered by fashion icons for decades.
I searched all over Forever 21 but could not find a modest (and non-cheapy) black dress to save my life, so I turned to Modcloth. I found slightly better luck here although they are pretty pricy compared to F21. (The dresses featured in this post are from here.)
As for accessories, pearls look amazing with formal wear. Faux pearls will work just as well as real ones. When it comes to shoes, it’s all up to you. If you’re not into sky-high strappy heels, try something with a sleek low heel. If you can’t see yourself wearing something like that, a nice pair of flats will work just fine.
When it comes to makeup and hair, do something chic and beautiful that you wouldn’t normally do. You can try curling your hair and then sweeping it into a pretty up-do or just let it hang loose and shiny down your back. Be sure to wear mascara so your face isn’t overpowered by the black dress.

You can also check out this older post on little black dresses here.

7 comments :

  1. The Night by Night dress is my favorite, by far! Thank you so much for the tips. I am going to have to go find some new strappy heals, sadly my feet grew another half size this year so my old ones, which were really cute, no longer fit. :-(

    Plus, the pearls are darling!

    -Maggie
    www.foreverfindingmybliss.blogspot.com

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  2. My dress code for cosmetology school is all black, so I'd been looking for black dresses and found some nice ones at Kohls a while back. So if anyone wants to find cheaper LBDs they can try looking there! You could probably look at JCPenny or Macy's as well.

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  3. Hey! I just came across your blog and I love it! Your tips are great!

    I needed to buy a dress yesterday that I could wear to a wedding in a few weeks, but also one that I could wear throughout the year, and I found a super cute one at Ross! It's black and it has sort of puffed sleeves and it ties in the back. It's way cuter than it sounds! Plus, it was only 20 bucks, so definitely check out a place like that! :)

    I LOVE that necklace, too! So cute!

    love in Christ,
    Laney

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  4. Maggie,
    I'm glad you liked it!

    Sarah,
    Cosmetology school? That sounds like tons of fun (and work)! I get most of my clothes at Macy's. I'll try to post my LBD from there later. :)

    Laney,
    Thanks! I've only been to Ross once, but I think it's a really great place to get good deals. (I got a hot pink minidress there for $8.) And I just have to say...your profile photo is so cute!

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  5. I love. These dresses I wish they were still for sale.
    Im a teenager in high school and love to look cute with the latest. I'm big into fashion which can sometimes be hard when your also a Christian trying to be modest and respectable at the same time. Sometimes that new dress is just a little to short or that new blouse is kinda low.
    Love the post

    Haley

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  6. Haley,
    I love these dresses I wish they were still for sale. I'm a teenager in high school and love fashion but sometimes it's a little hard because I'm a Christian and also have to be modest and respectable. It can be a little irritating when your at the mall with your best friends and your favorite dress in the stool is just a little to short or the new blouse you love but your mom would never let you get because it's just too low. Love the post thank you!!

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  7. I totally agree with you -- it's a challenge, but it's worth it!

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