Fashion Friday: Little Black Dress

It is no secret that black is my favorite color! No matter how hard I try to do something different I always come back to black. A few months ago, after seeing Sex and the City Two, I declared that I was a changed woman. But I have failed miserably at that change.

I was planning to wear something vibrant and very SATC2 for #RLTEvent, but it just didn't happen. After being on IV medication another 33 days going into the event my weight loss program went straight down the tube, my IV tube that is.

Being self conscious about the weight shift I experience at the top of my body because of HIV and the extra weight from being on the IV drip, vibrant colors were  simply out of the question. I didn't want to look like Spongebob at the top of my body. Yes, it is true that people wear darker colors to camouflage  undesirable weight, but for me, it is also true that I just love the color black.

When I originally went searching for something to wear for #RLTEvent, I was looking for a gray lace dress from Ann Taylor that I  had seen in Essence magazine in an article featuring celebrity make-up artist Tia Dantzler. I was hoping that they had it but I was not very optimistic about the fit. Typically, dresses do not fit my body shape and I end up wearing separates 99% of the time. Well, the gray dress hadn't come in and I noticed a little black dress. There was something about the simple elegance of it that caught my eye. I didn't think it would work because of my body shape but I tried it on anyway. And OMG!! To my surprise it fit me perfectly.

This was the most perfect fitting dress that I have purchased since my body fat shifted because of HIV over nine years ago. I love this dress!! It was not only a great fit, but a great buy at $98.00. Plus, the manager gave me an extra 30% off. It pays to be a regular at some stores.

The little black dress was made popular by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy and I first became a fan of it from watching Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast's at Tiffany's. In fact, the simple elegance of Audrey Hepburn has for the most part helped to define my style.

Every woman needs a basic black dress. It has withstood the test of time, from first lady to first lady. The dress I chose for #RLTEvent can go across seasons. You can simply slip a cardigan over it for the colder months. You can dress it down with kitten heels or up with stilettos. You can accessorize until the cows walk from Chicago to L.A. If you like, you can add color with your wrap, shoes, or handbag. It is the most perfect dress to own.

Look at the first ladies in the pictures below. The dress that First Lady Obama is wearing in the middle is fun and fit for the red carpet. The one she is wearing on the right is a modern twist to the one that First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is wearing on the left. These two dresses are timeless. My suggestion is to go with one with simple lines. If you have more curves you may want to consider an a line dress. For those of us with no hips and behind, a straight dress may be your best bet. My overall suggestion is to try on black dresses until you find the perfect fit. When you discover it, you will know without a doubt.  Happy hunting!!

Post Script: A guest of Art Sims, who didn't know me prior to the event, said, "I simply admire your style. It is elegant and it seems effortless." Well, dressing to look fabulous is always an effort, but without a doubt it should come across as a way of life. When you try too hard people notice. I was happy that I didn't second guess myself. I wore what I knew for sure! So, I'm declaring that I've come to my senses!!!  Black is my favorite color and simple elegance is my style. Yes, I will add color from time to time to spice things up, but I'm not going to let peer pressure try to fix what was never broken. Talk to ya later... I'm headed to the gym. I am determined to get this extra 12-15 pounds off! #ForReal #I'mgettinmyDivaBack