Phillip Lim, Donna Karan, Valentino, Givenchy
Red lipstick, black lace underwear, diamond stud earrings, pearls and the little black dress (aka the LBD) are all timelessly chic. In 1926 Coco Chanel designed the first LBD and it was an enormous hit. Prior to that only widows wore the color and it was considered shocking and taboo to wear any other time. I think Audrey Hepburn best captured the slightly risque decadence of a LBD wrapped up in an innocent bow as Holly Golightly in the 1960′s movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It immortalized the glamour of a modern girl traipsing around Manhattan in her LBD and Wayfarer sunglasses peering into Tiffany’s and dreaming of more (see photos below). Holly seems like a little girl who has dived into her mommy’s closet and is playing dress up. The little black dress gives her the veneer of tough big city girl, but we know that deep down she’s a softie who sings Moon River to her cat.
Twenty-two designers have taken on the challenge of re-inventing this classic in a charity auction curated by Phillips de Pury under the high patronage of Carla Bruni-Sarkosy for breast cancer research raising over $100,000. I was invited to the event by two of my girlfriends on the hosting committee (Bianca Pratt and Sally Wu) and was excited to see the results. My personal fave was the Givenchy (see pic above) which reminds me of something Milla Jovovitch would wear in The Fifth Element. Smoking hot for a night on the town. However, the tasteful simplicity of the Valentino rocks as well. A perfect Cameron Diaz legs dress.
Participating designers included Alberta Ferretti, Alexis Mabille, Azaaro, Boudicca, Catherine Malandrino, Diane Von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Fendi, Gaspard Yurkievich, Gianfranco Ferre, Giorgio Armani Prive, Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci, Jean Paul Gaultier, Lanvin by Alber Elbaz, Mario Schwab, Martin Grant, Missoni, Phillip Lim, Sonia Rykiel, Thakoon, Valentino and Vivienne Westwood.
Halle Berry showed up without new love Oliver Martinez. She was in a formfitting little black dress by Roberto Cavalli, handbag by Stella McCartney and jewelry by SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.
Julianna Margulies wore a little black dress by Helmut Lang, shoes by Yves Saint Laurent and jewelry by SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS
Sofia Vergara (ABC’s Modern Family) sizzled in a snake print dress by Jean Paul Gaultier, shoes by Prada and jewelry by Shourouk made with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS. I attended Sofia’s housewarming party in NYC earlier this summer that she had with her new boyfriend, banking heir, Nick Loeb.
Also in attendance were actress Lisa Edelstein of House, J Alexander of America’s Next Top Model, 70′s supermodel Pat Cleveland, Lady Liliana Cavendish, Muffie Potter Aston, Yigel Azrouel, Christina Cuomo, Kelly Choi of Top Chef Masters, and Amy Fine Collins of Vanity Fair.
PHOTOS OF THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS FROM “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
