How to pick a little black dress for your figure

Step 2: Accessorize your dress to go from the office to a nighttime function.
For junior executives and assistants, an appropriate daytime/work look is a cardigan over your dress (with the sleeves pushed up to make it interesting), diamond stud earrings (or a reasonable fascimile), and some pearls. Then funk it up at night by adding a black tight and a riding or stretch leather fitted boot with slender high heel. Tuck a lightweight turtleneck under your dress, or throw a cable knit sweater or leather jacket over it.

For those in an executive or "boardroom" position, create a daytime look by adding a blazer -- but not a body, "eighties" power version. You want a little cropped blazer with a notched-collar jacket and a one-button closure to accent the waist and maybe three-quarter sleeves for a casual look. At night, tie a scarf around your throat and tuck it into the neckline of the dress. Add a pair of slingbacks, a little clutch, and throw a cardigan over your shoulders.

"Help! I love the concept, but I look awful in black."
Sometimes your little black dress problem is not a body issue -- it's a complexion issue. First, try a dress with a scoop or V-neck that will keep the solid black fabric from being so close to your face. If that doesn't work, then simply don't wear black; instead, accessorize with it. Dress yourself in pink, chartreuse, periwinkle or bone, and add a black patent leather belt. Pop on a pair of patent slingbacks; carry a slim black patent clutch. For a jazzier nighttime look, forgo the pearls and add a beaded black choker.

Extra help: Choosing the best material
Don't get fooled into buying a black dress made from matte jersey. Although that fabric is fluid and stretches for comfort (great for exercise pants), keep a mental picture of Hepburn's architectural little black dress in mind and settle on a soft wool gabardine with a touch of Lycra that will hold its shape -- as well as yours.

For women with a more challenging body type, the best little black dress will be unstructured and of a fabric that does not drape (which means without Lycra). The shape of this dress should be accented with individualized tailoring details, according to each woman's body shape.

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Excerpted from The Handbook of Style: Expert Fashion and Beauty Advice as told to Francine Maroukian and Sarah Woodruff. Copyright 2007 by Francine Maroukian. Excerpted with permission from Quirk Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.