SPEAKING OF THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS

HOW COOL IS THIS? 

WHAT THIEF WOULD THINK TO LOOK AMONG 

A WOMAN'S DRESSES TO FIND HER JEWELRY? 

A Short History of the Little Black Dress

Its silhouette has changed over the years, but the LBD remains supremely chic.

THE BIRTH OF THE LBD

Perhaps more than any other piece of clothing, the little black dress is, women have been told, the essential, the one that will take you practically anywhere. And perhaps more than any other designer, Coco Chanel was the one who made it ubiquitous. She did not invent the concept, of course, but according to Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life (by Justine Picardine, $40, amazon.com), “the little black dress was not formally identified as the shape of the future until 1926, when American Vogue published a drawing of a Chanel design.… It was an apparently simple yet elegant sheath, in black crêpe de Chine, with long, narrow sleeves, worn with a string of white pearls; and Vogue proved to be correct in the prediction that it would become a uniform.…” Contrast that description with these more elaborate dresses from 1925.

1927

Note the narrowed silhouette and shorter hemline of this layered creation with a semi-sheer top

1928

Actress Joan Bennett in a more stereotypical flapper ensemble, a tiered Charleston-style dress and cloche hat.

1928

An evening dress from that same year: handkerchief-hemmed, sleek, and modern.

1930

Renowned entertainer Josephine Baker wears a shorter skirt adorned with peacock feathers.

1935

The ’30s would bring a return to softer, feminine cuts. Full, flowing hems once again fell below the calf. That asymmetrical neckline still looks modern.

1936

This glamorous look may have been influenced by Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli, who loved embellishment as much as she did strong shoulders.

1939

A meticulously tailored LBD as worn by the Duchess of Windsor, as famous for her sense of style as she was infamous for her love life.

1943

Minimalism and practicality prevailed during the war years; silhouettes became simple, boxy, and functional, with a military feel to their squared shoulders.

1948

Postwar, the fashion world took a new turn with Christian Dior’s legendary New Look: wasp waist, lavishly full skirt, as with this knocked-off version

1949

Two years after he introduced the New Look, Dior narrowed his skirts—like his velvet-and-satin cocktail dress here—hinting at the lean sheaths to come.

1951

The sleek sheath—this one by Dior again—would be one of the shapes that dominated the ’50s.

1951

A plunging neckline and a pencil-slim skirt combine for a dramatic cocktail dress.

1955

A graceful mid-decade dress harks back to the look that revolutionized fashion almost a decade before.

1956

Marilyn Monroe—hand in hand with new husband Arthur Miller—in a wool-crepe Galanos cocktail dress with a bare chiffon midriff.

1957

A gorgeous pouf of a dress from Paris.

1959

Mademoiselle Chanel, the celebrated couturier herself, puts the finishing touches on a late-’50s design.

1961

Audrey Hepburn in what might be filmdom’s most famous LBD, designed by Hubert de Givenchy for Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

1962

Chanel’s influence is seen in the multiple ropes of pearls piled atop a little black dress (the bouffant perhaps inspired by then–first lady Jacqueline Kennedy).

1965

Though the photograph is from the mid-’60s, Sophia Loren would be just as stylish wearing this outfit today: leopard-print hat, accessorizing brooch, timeless black dress.

1965

The 1960s also ushered in the era of the mini, like this beaded chiffon number. Eventually hems soared so high they had no place to go but down.

1970

Liza Minnelli attends the Academy Awards with her father wearing a simple, sexy wrap style that presages the slinky disco dresses in the offing

1970

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis chooses a more elaborate black dress for dinner at the fashionable La Côte Basque. Mrs. Onassis would be seen in the dress on a number of occasions; she didn't believe in retiring an outfit after being photographed in it once.

1977

Blondie’s Deborah Harry puts some rock spin on the little black dress—extra emphasis on the little.

1985

A bit of 1980s excess at the House of Chanel, under the direction of Karl Lagerfeld, who is widely credited with reinvigorating it.

1988

Almost 30 years after the release of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Iman elegantly updates the look with a sleek gown and an equally sleek updo.

1994

Naomi Campbell on the catwalk for Chanel, modeling Lagerfeld’s brief take on the LBD. Mademoiselle herself resisted raising hemlines; in fact, she seemed to disapprove of miniskirts.

1994

Lagerfeld wasn’t the only one pushing limits. Here, Elizabeth Hurley wears—sort of—Gianni Versace’s notorious version of the fashion standard.

1994

Princess Diana raised eyebrows with this stunning LBD—her so-called revenge dress—but not for the first time. The low-cut black gown she’d worn in her public debut as Prince Charles’ fiancée verged on the scandalous for its serious décolletage.

1998

With her chic sensibility, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy epitomizes spare elegance.

1999

Calista Flockhart’s dress is a step back to another time, recalling the luxurious skirts and lowered hems of the New Look.

2002

At the other end of the LBD spectrum, Kate Moss’s minimalistic interpretation is nothing if not edgy.

2008

Madonna is almost demure in latter-day Christian Dior.

2009

Michelle Obama wears a lovely, ladylike Azzedine Alaia dress with a modernized ’50s silhouette.

Penelope Cruz shows everything old is new again: a gorgeously simple sheath with a below-the-knee hem.

2010

One of the most talked about dresses of the year, Heidi Klum’s very little black dress.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE LBD IN HER CLOSET

Miley Cyrus' Ridiculous Outfit Leaves Literally Nothing to the Imagination

Oh god. It's getting worse. Much worse. I thought Miley Cyrus would, for lack of a better phrase, tone it down a bit after she and Liam Hemsworth broke things off, but no. Not even a little. Whatever the opposite of toning down is? That's what Miley's doing. Need proof? Just shift your gaze to this photo of Miley wearing little more than tape over her boobs and a pair of undies.

Typically, when a girl and a guy break up, one of the first telltale signs of how things are going for the female is how she starts dressing. If Miley were suddenly spotted in jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers, we'd probably think: "Hey, Miley seems to be more introspective lately. Maybe she's thinking about how she's been acting and starting to regret some of her recent antics?" Or if she started walking around looking completely unkempt -- hair a mess, pajama pants on -- we may think: "Yikes. Miley really doesn't seem to be doing well right now. I hope she's okay." But the fact that Miley is dressing more revealing than she has in the past (who thought that was possible?), it makes us think: "Wow, Miley doesn't seem to be doing all that well ... and she has absolutely no idea whatsoever. Also, she isn't going to stop any time soon!"

This ... is not an outfit. It's a fishing net and some office supplies. I'm not sure who told Miley after she got dressed: "Yeah! That's a great idea to wear that in public!" But whoever it is, they're not her real friend; they're her mortal enemy. Because this is ridiculous. Miley has a hot body, and if she wants to show it off, she has every right to. But I really have no clue what the hell is going on here. It actually could be her worst fashion choice yet. And after the non-clothes she wore to the VMAs, that's saying a lot.

Miley, I hope you're okay, girl. Kind of doesn't look like it.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MILEY'S OUTFIT?

Son of Vikings' Adrian Peterson Dies

The 2-year-old son of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson died Friday in Sioux Falls, S.D., from injuries sustained during an alleged aggravated assault Wednesday, police said.

Police are not releasing the boy's name out of respect for the family, but Peterson's father, Nelson Peterson, told the St. Paul Pioneer Press the child is Adrian Peterson's son.

Lincoln County State's Attorney Tom Wollman confirmed the death of the child, who had been in critical condition in a hospital with severe head injuries since Wednesday. The boy died at 11:43 a.m. at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls after being removed from life support, Wollman said.

Joseph Patterson, 27, was charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery in the child's death. He had a court appearance Friday and was ordered held on $750,000 cash bond.

Wollman said he'll review police and medical reports before making further decisions about criminal charges, possibly by early next week.

Peterson tweeted a series of messages Friday night, thanking his family, friends, fans and fellow NFL players -- whom he referred to as "a fraternity of brothers" -- for their support.

Peterson took to Twitter again on Saturday morning, confirming that the 2-year-old was not Adrian Peterson Jr.

The Vikings (1-3) host the Carolina Panthers (1-3) on Sunday.

Peterson, speaking to reporters at the Vikings' team facility Friday before an announcement about his son's death had been made, said he would play Sunday.

A Vikings source, however, told ESPN's Josina Anderson that that feeling "was the emotion of the moment. That could change."

Peterson left the team facility Friday evening.

"I think we should allow Adrian to grieve tonight," the source told Anderson. "The plan is to talk to him tomorrow for now."

The 2-year-old son of Adrian Peterson died Friday in Sioux Falls, S.D., police confirmed.
An additional source close to Peterson told Anderson he was certain the running back would play against the Panthers. Another source close to the player said he would tell Peterson to sleep on it.

Police and an emergency medical services crew were called Wednesday to a Sioux Falls home, where the child was found unresponsive and was rushed to the hospital, according to a police statement. The child was under Patterson's care at the time, and nobody else was at the home.

At the hospital, it was discovered that the child's injuries were consistent with abuse. Patterson, who police say is the boyfriend of the child's mother, was taken into custody and charged.

Peterson is second in the NFL with 421 yards rushing and first in the league with five touchdowns. He came back from reconstructive knee surgery to rush for 2,097 yards and win the league MVP award last season.

The Panthers, Sunday's opponent, were sympathetic.

"It's absolutely terrible. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family, and hopefully things work out," coach Ron Rivera said.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said he thought Peterson practiced as well as he could Friday considering the circumstance.

More From ESPN.com
 GoesslingIn times of tragedy -- which have become all too common in his life -- Adrian Peterson has found refuge in football, writes Ben Goessling. Blog

"He seems like he was into it, engaged in what he had to get done," Frazier said. "Obviously, tough. He's human. But he was into it mentally, best as he could be."

Fellow running back Toby Gerhart said: "It's hard for any man to admit that he's hurting or he needs help or anything like that. For us to be around him and tell him we've got his back, if there's anything he needs that we're there for him, I think that goes a long way."

News of the boy's death spread throughout the sports world Friday.

LeBron James of the NBA's Miami Heat, who said he is close friends with Peterson, sent text messages and tweets to offer his support.

"He's a friend of mine, first of all," James said. "I've had a pretty good relationship [with] him for a long time. I respect him as a father and as a role model. And also having two boys of my own, it hit home. It sucks that this has happened. Like I said in my tweets, my family, our prayers go up to him and him and his family, his son.

"I'm absolutely angry, because it's an innocent kid that's taken away by someone's stupidity. I don't know the guy who did it. But there's nothing that a 2-year-old kid can say, can do, can harm to any grown-up that would make them do that. It's a lot of hurt. It's a lot of anger. It's messed up."

WHAT A MESSED UP WORLD WE LIVE IN..So Tragic :(

Letting Go 7 Days Clean & Sober

I once thought that life as I knew it was over, I was lost without you, I needed you, I talked to you as if you were still here. I asked your opinions about everything that pertained to my life. You were gone to me forever yet my heart still held on for dear life. As long as you were still in my life I was safe and nothing could ever harm me. As long as I held on to a us there could never be anyone else. I pushed people away and held them at bay. I was content to be together just you and I if only in the dreams of my heart. 

I am writing this since it has been a week since I let go of you out in that Georgia cemetery. I thought that I would just not think of you again, but we both know that is impossible. So just like a alcoholic or a junkie that counts down the days of there sobriety I too will count the days since I let go. That I let go of you so that I could live. 

I have to admit that I catch myself thinking of you, but then I quickly do something to keep my mind occupied and the thoughts soon cease. I haven't been on facebook that much since I am using this time for me to heal. Last week at work went well and I was able to completely focus on my task at hand. It is so good to be back to work and to feel as if I am needed and appreciated. The nights are not so long anymore and I am not checking the alarm every hour to see if it is time to get up yet. 

I FEEL AT PEACE  

The Rhythm Of Love

That place you get to and mutter “I've heard it all before” with a deep knowing look on your face. A look some would translate as wisdom, others pain and some arrogance. But you’re past caring.

All sorts of love proposals, all sorts of carefully composed words, and sophisticated sentences that aim to sound convincing. Portraying a goody bag of emotions, so deep, so real, so false, so obviously deceitful, so aggressive… so blunt.

And so you hear them so much that the words, whenever they are directed at you blur into a pile of nothingness… you’re no longer moved, you can’t wait for the theatrics of professing to end, so you can finish up painting your nails or staring into space and wondering what it’s like to pull out the hair sticking out the nose of the person sitting across from you, because sentences like “ so tell me about you” makes you want to haul your phone across the room, if only it’ll keep the voice away, but you don’t, because it’s your phone, bought with your money, and suffering the unwanted advances wouldn't pay for a new phone... well that’s unless you let those who try to buy your emotions do just that, only to reveal to them that the deal didn't go through, as you let them down via the expensive phone they bought for you. Life isn't fair is it?

You’re desperate to feel a stirring deep in your heart; you’re desperate for that string within to recognize a cord played in yet another voice, yet another mail or instant message with carefully thought out words… but nothing, the proverbial butterfly eludes your stomach.
And so the nice, fine, wealthy, enlightened, funny and almost born again one goes in the pile of blurring nothingness.

Till that one person comes along, with not a word of poetry, with not a silhouette of your dreams and fairytale imagination, with no enchanted love talk, bearing no gifts to hand over in exchange for your love.
With no desperate attempt to paint your heart with meaningless words, with no play act…
With no trying…
All he does is be your friend, your best friend.

And in that rhythmic walk in friendship, where pretense is thrown under the bus, where you‘re dared to be yourself, where beauty isn't blinding and making common sense redundant, you find yourself stumbling and eventually falling and opening a window for the love bug that’s been impatiently waiting on the ground to bite you, and the sting awakens your flat lined heart.

Your heart responds to the cord that plays a song you desperately want to dance to, even when you’re clueless as to how to move to the beat.
But you move all the same, because the sound is so good, you can’t afford not to move to the rhythm, not moving will drown you in that place of blurry oblivion… You move to the sound so good, even if you have no idea how, because it speaks of all things beautiful, a beauty that is beyond your face or his heart, one where you skip all the theatrics of declaring love, where you skip all the skipping around and going through the ritual of being coy and hiding feelings and not saying what you mean and playing games with emotions….
Then you do a tiptoe dance around this new beat, hoping the heels of your dancing shoes doesn't rip a hole in it, hoping it never stops playing, hoping you’re never numb again, and back to the place where every word of wooing is drained into a hole of blurry oblivion.