“Scheherazade is easy. The little black dress is hard.” – Coco Chanel

Holiday Season is here, and I have a bunch of events to go to in the next two weeks. I clearly don’t want to buy a brand new dress for every event…so I was thinking that I’d channel Chanel and buy a one little black dress, but wear it different ways.

I found two ideas for variations amongst my coworkers.

Fashionable Lady One here:


Wears an off black dress with a scarf tied around her waste and matching pumps.

Fashionable Lady Two:


Pops an oxford under her black dress and wears a scarf as a belt. Her fishnets and super cute shoes set this outfit apart.

Want more ideas?

Throw a lacy cardigan or snazzy jacket over your black dress like Kimora displays on her Baby Phat
website:

Or put on a wide belt and cool jewelry as ShopBop shows in their LookBook:

The last option, of course, is to sport the dress as is, like this $88 London Times Chiffon Bubble Dress from Nordstrom:

But I’d suggest wearing big vibrant jewelry with a plain dress as Rachel Roy displays here:

Cute!

If you plan on rocking one black dress, buy one that has a pencil or A-Line silhouette with a demure neckline. Find a dress that’s plain enough to pair with a lot of jewelry, a flashy shirt, cute shoes, or a snazzy cardigan, without looking awkward or over the top.

This dress by Elie Tahari…

…is an expensive $448 at Bloomingdales, but options are endless and you can wear this one to work.

This $100 dress by Jones New York (www.nordstrom.com)…

…is also pretty plain…but it’s a black canvas on which you can add whatever accents you like.

Tons of variations…and I guarantee noone will run up to you like, “Didn’t you wear that the other day….?”

Smootches!

Sales, Sales:
From New York Magazine:
*Eugenia Kim’s funky women’s and men’s fedoras and pageboys are 50-70% off. 12/13-12/15 (9am-8pm); 12/16 (11am-7pm). Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 W. 18th St., nr. Sixth Ave., fourth fl. (212-421-3200)
*Nanette Lepore’s feminine dresses ($145 to $250), coats ($250 to $300), and pants ($95 to $120) are on sale. 12/13-12/14 (9am-6pm) 225 W. 35th St., nr. Seventh Ave., fourth fl. (212-594-0012).
*Hollywould’s festive footwear is 60 to 80 percent off; clothes, shoes, and handbags in the bargain bins are from $25. 12/13-12/16 (11:30am- 7pm). 198 Elizabeth St., nr. Spring St. (212-219-1905). This sale is also online! Go to www.ilovehollywould.com! These sweet peep toes:

Were $585 and they’re now $125. A little chilly for peep toes, but you can always rock ‘em next year (Thanks Kim!)
*Don’t forget Tory Burch and Goldenbleu!