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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
      1880s - Black, the requisite color for mourning, really became a thing in the Victorian Age. Strict laws dictated that plain, black dresses with no decoration were to be worn for one year and one day. For the next nine months, black silk, lace, and embellishments were allowed.
      Photo by: Naomi Abel, R29
      1880s - Black, the requisite color for mourning, really became a thing in the Victorian Age. Strict laws dictated that plain, black dresses with no decoration were to be worn for one year and one day. For the next nine months, black silk, lace, and embellishments were allowed.

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