Flaunt your LWD this summer!

Why the Little White Dress can be just as flattering as the Little Black Dress...

The Little White Dress (LWD) is now a summer staple.  If at the festive season your Little Black Dress (LBD) should be your go to-for the next few months it is all about the LWD. And yes, the LWD can be just as flattering as the LBD. As a colour, white perhaps is not as forgiving as black, so you just need to pay attention to the shape and fabrics when choosing your LWD. Nothing too clingy and A-lines and empire line styles are your safest bets. And as a colour is works well day to night, formal to beachwear-so it really is more versatile than its black sister!
A white dress just spells summer and this is something that Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, knows well. One of her first appearances of this summer season was at the Royal Ascot where she chose to wear a white lace dress with scallop details-it was very similar to the Dolce and Gabbana dress she wore the year before to the same event. So the LWD even has the royal stamp of approval.
And just like the LBD, you can never have enough LWDs - so if you bought one last summer, you can still go ahead and buy another. And while the Duchess may have opted for a designer label, you can buy the LWD on a budget too. Be it contemporary brands like Self Portrait and Sandro, or high street staples like Zara and Mango or on-line portals like Namshi - you can find one in any price range.
Shoes: We love it when women pair a white dress with white sneakers for a daytime look. Maintain the elegance of white by keeping shoes and dress in the same colour. In the evenings you can also try nude pumps, but choose a nude that is closest to your skin tone for an elongating effect.
How to dress up your LWD
The best part about the little white dress is that it's a blank slate - you can really play with it. Accessorise it and it is formal enough to wear for an important occasion (but not a wedding - it's a bride's right to be the only one in white), and easy enough to wear to a relaxed brunch.
Neck pieces: You can make a statement, or go for a delicate look. If your dress already has some lace or frills around the neckline, then just stick to earrings. White should never look too fussy.
Make-up: Now you can have some real fun with your lip colour when wearing your little white dress - why not try berry, orange or even a bright pink.
 
sujata@khaleejtimes.com