Black 60s Shift Dresses - Little Black Dresses - LBDS

Baby's in Black

No female over 16 is too young to own a little black dress. Younger girls and women can opt for little black evening dresses like these mini dresses, which can be teamed with opaque tights or leggings or just show lots of leg. I especially like the youthful quality in this black evening dress right from the USA company Shine.

LBDs - we all need several, so start collecting now!

Choose from trapeze styles with added hemline flare or empire lines. These styles have child like baby doll elements and being shorter very much suit the young.

Always take every opportunity to wear these 'baby doll' styles when you are young, as all too soon the stage will come when you simply cannot get away with this look. Woe is me!

There are so many shoe styles on offer, from the gold platforms from River Island seen at the top of the page, to these high black ankle strap shoes from Matalan.

You will be spoilt for choice and will be able to totally indulge whatever personal style preference for footwear you have.

The black shoes from Matalan have a real vintage feel to them and would create a totally different look to that of the ballerina shoes.

Velvet

Yes, you can wear any combination of skinny jeans and trousers, but autumn occasions are just that - occasions that offer you a chance to dress up a little more than usual. As an alternative to jeans and trousers, wear a classic velvet coat like this Matalan version on the left. As a result you will have a luxury, but low cost evening look.

Velvet offers romantic looks that can move from day to evening with ease. This rich midnight blue velvet dress from Boden would suit many girls and women. It's a real party frock.

You could give it a quirkier edge by pushing the skirt out with a visible net petticoat. Midnight blue is one of the best colours for velvet, as it retains a richness lost on pastel velvets which are horribly fattening.

Velvet is a lush fabric that is perfect for Christmas and New year celebrations.

Brown shades are one the colours trends of autumn 2006 with earthy natural tones being important. This velvet V-neck evening dress is from John Lewis.

Learn how to care for velvet and how to press it without damaging the pile. With the proper care you can keep your velvet party dress looking in good shape for years.

Separates

Boden

If a dress is not for you, then seek out a skirt with an embellished hemline. This skirt with a folkloric decorated hem from Boden may be an option.

Boden have teamed their skirt with matching ballerina flats. In UK we see ballerina flats in every shoe shop and people skipping around town in them.

Or you may prefer more of a clubbing look that follows a trend not yet worn by everyone. Bubble skirts are just coming into mainstream fashion.

Shine New York

This pretty creamy bubble skirt from Shine New York fits the bill for young women's fashion. This is one of the few bubble skirts I've seen that I really like.

The matt fabric deep golden ochre top is a very good choice and also a strong colour for autumn 2006. This is a very refreshing change from the looks of the Teri Hatcher floaty tops and jeans with which we are now very familiar.

If you prefer a dress to separates, Shine New York has this classic red mini bubble dress which would be a perfect colour choice for the festive season.

The red style by Shine is very similar to a dress Paris Hilton has been photographed wearing.

Again like the golden ochre tone, red is another strong colour for fall and I've written a page about Lady in Red as a colour choice in detail.

Images all courtesy of Matalan, Oasis, New Look,House of Fraser, French Connection, Boden, John Lewis, River Island Dorothy Perkins image courtesy of Arcadia UK. In USA Shine New York. Header image courtesy of River Island.