15 of the most iconic little black dresses of all time

Gabi StevensonAug 10, 2022, 12:44 IST

Audrey Hepburn, Princess Diana, and Rihanna all made major statements in little black dresses.Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images; Jayne Fincher/Getty Images; Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

The little black dress is considered a fashion staple for its simplicity and versatility.
Stars have been rocking variations of the little black dress since it was popularized in the 1930s.

Fashion historians credit Coco Chanel with popularizing the "little black dress" as haute couture in the 1920s.

Coco Chanel's "little black dress" was shown at the auction. It sold for 1,500 pounds, which equates to $3,000, at Christie's.Bettmann/Getty Images

The off-the-shoulder black dress Princess Diana wore is so famous it has its own nickname: "The Revenge Dress."

Princess Diana at London's Serpentine Gallery in June 1994.Jayne Fincher/Getty Images

The Versace safety pin dress Elizabeth Hurley wore for the "Four Weddings and Funeral" premiere in 1994 thrust her into the spotlight.

Elizabeth Hurley and Hugh Grant at the premiere of "Four Weddings and a Funeral" on May 11, 1994, in London, England.Dave Benett/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's" cemented Audrey Hepburn, and the iconic dress she wore, into fashion history.

Actress Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in a publicity photo for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" in 1961.Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Meghan Markle looked timeless and elegant in a black fit-and-flare dress in 2018.

Meghan Markle attends the centenary celebration of the Royal Air Force on July 10, 2018, in London, England.Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

Cindy Crawford stunned in a black Hervé Léger bandage dress at a party in 1998.

Cindy Crawford at the Vogue Magazine 100th anniversary party in New York City in 1998.Victor Malafronte/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Jennifer Aniston turned heads at a 1997 event in a simple minidress.

Jennifer Aniston at the Cosmopolitan Magazine party at LeCirque restaurant in 1997.Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Cher took the idea of the little black dress and made it her own.

Cher poses backstage at the 58th Academy Awards on March 24, 1986.Bettmann/Getty Images

Rihanna made waves in 2022 for her maternity style, but this sheer take was one of her most notable looks.

Rihanna outside of the Dior show during Paris Fashion Week on March 1, 2022 in Paris, France.Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

Kim Kardashian asked her Twitter followers to pick her outfit for the 2016 VMAs. They chose this sheer mini, which she paired with strappy sandals and wet-look hair.

Kim Kardashian at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2016, in New York City.Allen Berezovsky/WireImage

Angelina Jolie had the internet buzzing with this iconic moment in 2012 — all while wearing a structured black dress.

Angelina Jolie at the 84th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on February 26, 2012.Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images

In the 1972 film "Le Grand Blond avec une chaussure noire" (which translates to "The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe" in English), actress Mireille Darc wore a deep-cut, backless dress that stole the show.

Mireille Darc on the set of "Le grand blond avec une chaussure noire."Gaumont/Les Productions de la Guéville/Madeleine Films/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

In the 1972 film "Le Grand Blond avec une chaussure noire" (which translates to "The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe" in English), actress Mireille Darc wore a deep-cut, backless dress that stole the show.

Michelle Obama went with a sleek midi dress for the ESPYS in 2017, and her ensemble was a twist on her refined style.

Michelle Obama speaks at the ESPYS on July 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Winona Ryder liked this strapless dress so much that she rewore it multiple times.

Winona Ryder at an Artist's Rights Foundation event on February 16, 1996.Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Lady Gaga added some drama to a strapless minidress for a late-night appearance in January 2022.

Lady Gaga is seen outside "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on January 24, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Influencer Nikki Sharp planned her stunning destination wedding in Capri before she was even engaged

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15 of the most iconic little black dresses of all time

Fashion historians credit Coco Chanel with popularizing the "little black dress" as haute couture in the 1920s.

The off-the-shoulder black dress Princess Diana wore is so famous it has its own nickname: "The Revenge Dress."

The Versace safety pin dress Elizabeth Hurley wore for the "Four Weddings and Funeral" premiere in 1994 thrust her into the spotlight.

The 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's" cemented Audrey Hepburn, and the iconic dress she wore, into fashion history.

Meghan Markle looked timeless and elegant in a black fit-and-flare dress in 2018.

Cindy Crawford stunned in a black Hervé Léger bandage dress at a party in 1998.

Jennifer Aniston turned heads at a 1997 event in a simple minidress.

Cher took the idea of the little black dress and made it her own.

Rihanna made waves in 2022 for her maternity style, but this sheer take was one of her most notable looks.

Kim Kardashian asked her Twitter followers to pick her outfit for the 2016 VMAs. They chose this sheer mini, which she paired with strappy sandals and wet-look hair.

Angelina Jolie had the internet buzzing with this iconic moment in 2012 — all while wearing a structured black dress.

In the 1972 film "Le Grand Blond avec une chaussure noire" (which translates to "The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe" in English), actress Mireille Darc wore a deep-cut, backless dress that stole the show.

Michelle Obama went with a sleek midi dress for the ESPYS in 2017, and her ensemble was a twist on her refined style.

Winona Ryder liked this strapless dress so much that she rewore it multiple times.

Lady Gaga added some drama to a strapless minidress for a late-night appearance in January 2022.