The little black dress, a simple yet timeless fashion innovation first popular in the 1920s, has been called the foundation of any woman's wardrobe, and the one style item that makes every woman both look and feel great. Author Edna O'Brien has called it "both chic and armor," though the black dress was originally considered something of an anti-fashion statement when it first appeared after World War I with its "less is more" concept inspired by the simple lines of the chemise and the functional uniforms of French shopgirls and waitresses.

The little black dress has been promoted by many designers throughout the twentieth century, but most couture authorities credit its origin to famed French designer Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel (1883-1971). Chanel opened her first dress shops between 1912 and 1914 in Paris and Deauville, where she was the first to create women's clothing to be...