The Little Black Dress, Reinterpreted

With the economy in the toilet and the holiday party season in full swing, your little black dress is more important than ever. Oh, the many places I’ve gone with my little black dress. This dress is the perfect date for weddings and can help you look put together at work. But the little black dress also can be penciled in for fun lunches with friends and casual dinner dates with style and ease. It’s simply the most versatile piece you can own, and probably already do, and is worth the extra splurge for a good one.

I once did a week long test where I wore the same basic black dress all week and just mixed up the secondary players. I wore the black dress one day with knee-high boots, another day with colorful tights, one day with a contrasting cardigan, by adding loads of chunky goldtone necklaces and teamed with a motorcycle jacket. Of course, no one noticed.

With a few fun accessories and your imagination, you can instantly transform you LBD into a chic wonder without breaking the bank. Dress up your LBD with jewelry, a metallic shoe, a colorful clutch, interesting tights or a dramatic wrap.

To begin, you can channel the classic style of Audrey Hepburn with a single strand of pearl at the neck and a matching pair of studs in your ears. For added flourish, add heap loads of pearl necklaces at varying lengths. You can also add a colorful or neutral shoe. Of course, my favorite holiday accessory is a red lip. It’s always classic and happens to be in style again the year.

Why not add a little sparkle to the dress with rhinestone chandelier earrings or armloads of bracelets. Wear your hair pulled back into a playful ponytail to get maximum exposure. I love these chandelier earrings from Henri Bendel. They are party perfect and can really brighten up your look.

For a shiny look, wear your little black dress with metallic shoes or a chic clutch. Just remember, keep the metallics in the same family. So wear gold with gold and silver with silver. These metallic leather open-toe booties can add the perfect touch of glamour to your little black dress. Plus the signature red sole adds a pop of color.

Create a little leg interest when you're tired of your basic black dress. Just add textured and patterned hose in various colors. They bring great flair to the little black dress as well as mini skirts, winter shorts and pencil skirts. These crochet wool tights from Top Shop adds a sexy finish to the little black dress.

Partner your little black dress with a sequined belt. It’s totally unexpected and flatters your waistline. This adorable elastic belt from DKNY is a great one and I just love the flirty bow to polish it off.

Dress it up. The little black dress may be a staple for just about every occasion, but take it a step further with a great topper. I found this St. John Knit Marabou feather shawl on Ebay. It would make a great addition to my army of black dresses.

The ideas are endless, but you get the picture. Not only do accessories help to accentuate your figure, but accessories also allow you to express your creative side and let your personality shine through. Just think of the little black dress as your blank canvas and you can add colors and textures to create your master piece. There is a treasure to be found in consignment shops, Ebay, departments stores and even your Mom’s jewelry boxes.

Tonight I'm going to Michael's office holiday party. I'll post a picture later of how he and I accessorized. But let me know in the comments what you do to add a touch of pizazz to your classic LBD.