If you already have an LBD or LDD (the Little Dark Dress—a true wardrobe staple) and want to introduce some colour to create a different look, there are plenty of ways to do it.
You might be wearing it to multiple events with the same group of people and want it to appear like a completely new outfit—or simply want more variety for yourself.
9 Ways to Style Your LDD with Colour (and a Little Pattern Too!)
If your LDD has already been seen, why not layer a tie-waist blouse over it? This can transform the dress so it looks more like a separate top and skirt—just like the example here, where a peacock green blouse is worn over a black dress.
What if you need to attend a funeral, but you naturally look better in colour—perhaps you have higher contrast colouring and black tends to wash you out? In the past, you may have simply thrown a black jacket over your dress, even though you know it’s not the most flattering option for you.
Instead of going overboard with colour, choose a darker shade that suits you well—ideally a signature colour—and wear a jacket in that tone over your dress. Then, echo that same colour with an accessory near your face to create a cohesive and flattering look.
It’s not about adding lots of colour—just a subtle touch of a darker, more subdued shade can prevent the black dress from overwhelming you. Keep the rest of your accessories toned down and in harmony with the outfit—a funeral isn’t the occasion for something bold like a bright orange handbag.
However, when the event is more fun and relaxed, don’t hesitate to introduce colour into your LDD. Choose shades that harmonise well and enhance your overall look.
Here, a neutral brown dress is brought to life with red—though colours like yellow and turquoise blue also pair beautifully with brown.
If you’d like to incorporate more than one colour into your outfit and you’re not high contrast, consider using an analogous colour scheme.
Here, a burgundy dress pairs beautifully with plum and other purple tones, creating an elegant analogous colour scheme that feels harmonious rather than loud or garish.
If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can introduce a brighter colour that sits a step or two away on the colour wheel to add more visual interest.
Pink and purple are a combination that always works beautifully. If you’re looking for other ideas, purple also pairs really well with green and orange.
Another option is to incorporate lighter versions of your dress colour, or choose a patterned piece that includes your main colour along with another shade. You can then highlight that secondary colour through your accessories to create a cohesive and interesting look.
Here, a light green floral shrug incorporates touches of orange, which are echoed again in the accessories to create a pop of colour. This combination works especially well for someone with olive green eyes, as the orange enhances the skin tone beautifully.
If you’ve been styling your LDD with a few beauty bundles but are starting to feel bored with just one colour—or if you naturally suit higher colour contrast—consider introducing multicoloured pieces when the occasion allows. Choosing items with colours that harmonise together can add more interest and variety to your outfits.
Use your bag as a source of inspiration—pick out colours from it and repeat them in your accessories.
If you enjoy patterns, you can also incorporate a pattern theme into your accessories to add more visual interest.
Patterns don’t have to come only from prints—they can also appear through texture and shape. For example, floral lace shoes, a textured floral bag, and earrings inspired by floral shapes all create a cohesive pattern theme.
If leopard print suits your style better, you can incorporate it through accents and accessories to achieve a similar effect.
A simple LDD can be styled in endless ways by playing with different colours, textures, and patterns, transforming it into a wide variety of outfits. You can also adjust the level of refinement in your accessories to dress it up or down—provided the dress itself is versatile enough.
If you’re unsure about your colour contrast, you can get my professional input through the 7 Steps to Style program. In it, you’ll also discover your ideal colour palette, signature colours, body shape, and other physical and psychological elements of your style. Alternatively, you can explore my 3-step process to determine your contrast here.