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The little black dress lives happily in most closets, but at this time of year tends to get ignored. Maybe the nice weather makes us gravitate towards paler colors and brighter prints. Whatever the reason, it’s time to get acquainted with your LBD again. Summer evenings are the perfect time to wear your little black dress, and there are lots of great ways to accessorize:

1) Choose your tiniest strappy sandals and dangling earrings for a simple summer look.

2) Pair your black dress with a great shawl for those summer evenings.

3) Accessorize with fresh flowers. Your little black dress will look fabulous and simple if you pin flowers in your hair or wear a corsage. A few exotic blooms in a luminous white will look best.

4) Add some bright color with a jacket or funky hat. You can also try pairing your dress with contrasting-colored shoes in a bright shade to draw attention to your pretty pedicured summer feet.

5) Go for classic summer glamour with an up-do, yards of pearls (fake or real) and bright red lipstick.

6) Pair your little black dress with an oversized floppy summer hat (nothing too casual) for a great glam early-evening look.

Looking to expand your summer dress wardrobe? Now is the perfect time – many formal looks from spring are at discount and now that autumn is coming, many retailers are offering great sales on their summer dresses to make room for back-to-school fashions. Here’s what to look for as you start shopping:

1) Formal dresses in solid, metallic colors. Red carpets lately have been filled with classy formal dresses that are high on shimmer. Many celebrities are wearing blush and soft colors in metallic fabrics, although a few are opting for bolder hot pink colors that flatter darker skin tones.

2) Ethnic print summer dresses. Bold, multi-colored prints that look as though they hail from exotic locales are all the rage this summer. These dresses also look great with the hippie slouch bags that are hot this summer.

3) Printed swing dresses. Casual summer dresses in bright patterns featuring swing or a-line skirts are trendy right now and perfect for staying cool on hot days.

4) The little black dress – with a twist. Fashion-forward celebrities are embracing little black dresses that feature either cut out shapes or sheer skirts that show off toned legs. These dresses are lighter and more fun than the more formal little black dress, and are perfect for fun summer events.

5) Red one-shoulder dresses. These are popping up at award events everywhere. They really make summer evenings red-hot.

Visit Paris for a few days or weeks and an alarming pattern emerges – everyone looks amazing and elegant, with a stylish, casual style. Start chatting up a few of the locals and an even more alarming fact emerges: many women in the stylish city have less disposable income than the average North American, but tend to live and dress better. The effortless, elegant style can be yours, though. Here are the secrets of that certain je ne sais quoi:

• Buy classics rather than following trends. The most stylish women of history  — Grace Kelly, Coco Chanel, Jackie Onassis, even Gwyneth Paltrow – did not simply follow fashion. They often chose simple, classic pieces and set their own trends rather than trying to fill up their closets with items that are current in the moment.
• Think quality, not quantity. Rather than buying six blouses made cheaply and that will look frumpy and worn in a few months, buy one or two that are made from quality materials and are well constructed. They will last much longer and look better. The problem is that many of us are not brought up to recognize quality. If this describes you, visit several upscale stores and look closely at top-end clothing (even if you can’t afford it). You will quickly see the difference between poor quality and high quality. Don’t panic, though – quality clothes are available at discount, but you need to be able to recognize them when you see them. Learn first, shop second.
• Buy strategically. Don’t just buy something because you feel like it or you like how it looks. Consider your life – where you go, what events or occasions you attend – and create a list of items you must have to make your life work. Tuck this list into your pocket and when you shop focus on the items you need.
• Buy clothes that do double-duty. Simple wardrobe basics in classic styles and colors go far. A simple dress suit, day dress, formal dress, and a few skirts and tops will see you far and you can dress them up with accessories and other pieces.
• Consider building your wardrobe around a few colors. This will ensure that you can put together more outfits.

If you don’t already have a little black dress in your wardrobe, make sure you put this item on your New Year shopping list. The “little black dress” (LBD) will make 2009 much simpler for you since it will allow you to always have something to wear. Whether you need a work outfit, a formal evening dress, or a casual brunch outfit, you can turn a basic little black dress into something to suit your needs. Just select the best quality, simplest and most flattering little black dress you can find and use these tips to make your dress into something amazing:

• Pull on a blazer, or fine cardigan over your little black dress, toss on some conservative jewelry and some good shoes and you have an office outfit.
• Slip a beautiful white shirt under a sleeveless or strappy little black dress for a great and trendy brunch outfit.
• Pair your little black dress with a small evening clutch, strappy high heel sandals and some great jewelry for an evening out.
• If you have longer hair, pull your hair into a French twist, add some drop earrings and a pair of gorgeous closed-toe shoes as well as a fur cape, stole or short jacket and transform your little black dress into old Hollywood glamour.
• Toss on a turtleneck or long-sleeved knit top under your little black dress, add some thick tights and funky boots for a cute weekend outfit.
• Go hip with your little black dress by pairing it with a thick belt, boots, and bold jewelry.
• Toss on some sunglasses, a hat or a scarf for a movie queen weekend look.

No other dress creates as much confusion as the little black dress. Yes, everyone tells you that you must have one, but then you see your Aunt Edna wearing a little knit number at Thanksgiving and the shine of this dress is off. The secret to pulling off the look with panache is to shop for the dress with your body shape in mind. If you are…

1) A voluptuous hourglass figure, look for little black dresses that are A-line, which V-necks. These will emphasize your waist and flatter your bust line.

2) Rectangular with wide shoulder and petite chest, create curves with an empire-shaped little black dress.

3) Broad in the chest and shoulder area with smaller waist and legs, look for a dress with a fitted bottom and  a looser top to call attention to slender legs and balance you out.

4) Pear shaped, look for a dress with a straight skirt that’s a bit roomy in the hip and features a fitted top. This look will create proportion and draw attention up towards your face.

Don’t get too hung up on these rules, but do try on a few little black dresses in these styles. Take a friend along for an expert opinion and then spring for lunch. Just like you sometimes have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince, you sometimes have to try on a lot of flimsy frocks to find that perfect dress. Don’t give up the good fight.