Summer Saviour: The Little Black Dress
The Little Black Dress is not just a failsafe for evening wear dilemmas. Come summer, the perfect black dress is a closet hero that works as well in the city as it does on holiday. From little mini smock dresses to cinched waisted dresses with full 1950’s skirts, the LBD is a wardrobe wonder that you’ll reach for every year.
Hood’s 10 Best Little Black Summer Dresses
And How to Wear it…
Nicola Campbell Turnbull, Hood Digital Editor in her sold out H&M dress
I always have a number of favourite little black summer dresses in my closet. Long, short, cotton, linen, wraparound, smocked, boho, belted, broderie anglais - you name it I have it (or have had it at one stage). Ever since my days schlepping around London as a fashion journalist in the heat of the day, I’ve relied on a light and summery LBD to get me through. My favourite looks? I love a little broderie anglais for detailing or a cinched in waist with a full skirt to let me live out my Audrey Hepburn dream (this year my favourite for this look has been my H&M dress which is sadly now sold out).
For a chic summer-in-the-city LBD look I opt for ballet pumps, a roomy leather shopper and large sunglasses, always. However, when I switch it up for holidays I switch up my accessories. Flat strappy sandals are a must. I love my Holster sandals from Noosa Australia that I’ve had forever - but the current Mykonos are similar. They are ethically made and 100% vegan, so feel good fashion at its best.
I also love a big old basket bag. My last one gave up the ghost and, while I hanker after a DeMellier Santorini, my recent New Look purchase has served me well this summer while holidaying in Pollensa, Mallorca. My skinny Gucci belt has been with me a longtime too but I’d denied it an airing for so long for being too too much. Now TikTok is telling me that it’s making its comeback so love it or loathe it, you decide. I dug mine out for belting in my summer LBDs.
As for sunglasses, it’s go big or go home for me. Mine are a bashed up pair of Tom Ford Wallis sunnies from a longtime ago but the high street does shades so well now I’ll likely replace them with something I pick up from H&M or New Look until I can afford to splash out again.
Nicola x