5 Ways to Change Up Your Little Black Dress

I'm not a big believer in having a huge wardrobe; instead, I believe that if you have all of the essentials you will always have something to wear without having an overstuffed closet.

One of the essentials I rely on is a little black dress that hangs in my closet. My dress is really nothing special; it's more of a blank slate to create a unique look. But what I do have are lots of accessories and shoes to change up all of my essentials. That way, I can wear the same little black dress for several events and it looks like a totally different dress.

Here's how I stretch my little black dress:

• Statement necklace. My go-to, dress-up statement necklace is made of enormous faux crystals and hangs about collar-bone length. Whether you opt for crystals, gold, silver or colored stones, a statement necklace should be the centerpiece of your look. A statement necklace doesn't have to be oversized to be eye-catching; it just needs to be the center of attention, which is fairly easy on a simple black dress.
• Bracelets. The newest way to wear bracelets is to mix and match all sorts together. I still think that it looks classiest to wear all of one material (gold, silver, organic materials like wood) together, then funk it up with different finishes, sizes and types (I mix chain link, charms, bangles and cuffs together.)
• Patterned hosiery. One of the newest additions to dress up your little black dress is patterned hosiery. Whether you choose fishnets or bold lace, the leg then becomes your focal point. 
• Earrings. Shoulder duster earrings are still one of the most beautiful accents you can add to a dressy look, especially if you have short or pulled-back hair. What's not modern is matching your earrings to your necklace (frumpy!) Actually, with bigger earrings, you are better off skipping the necklace altogether.
• Brooches, hair jewelry. Add unexpected sparkle to your little black dress with a smattering of brooches. Or try a pretty hair barrette.
• Cover ups. While shawls can be easy and dressy, they can look somewhat aging. A more youthful option: a sequined jacket, a velvet blazer or a tuxedo-style blazer. If you do wear a shawl, wear it in black but switch up the fabric to differ from the dress for textural interest.