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    The History of the Little Black Dress

    By Connie Wang, Designed by Naomi Abel, Refinery29
    The little black dress has a much more storied past than just the time spent as your go-to party piece. In fact, LBDs have a place in some pretty major moments in history, dating back over 5,000 years - from a garment reserved only for evil to an item that represented empowerment and enfranchisement.

    Take a moment to relive its heritage, ahead - then, revel in a throwback that is both trendy and timeless.


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    1. Photo by: Naomi Abel, R29
      400 - 700 AD - During the Middle Ages, people didn't dare wear black, as the color had taken on a pretty bad rap. It was the color of bad fortune, evil, and the devil, and outcasts were routinely clothed in black to demonize them. Unsurprisingly, this was also the time when black cats and crows gained their ill reputations.
      Photo by: Naomi Abel, R29
      400 - 700 AD - During the Middle Ages, people didn't dare wear black, as the color had taken on a pretty bad rap. It was the color of bad fortune, evil, and the devil, and outcasts were routinely clothed in black to demonize them. Unsurprisingly, this was also the time when black cats and crows gained their ill reputations.

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