Kelly Wearstler lambskin
bag with a jeweled brass
clasp and a suede lining.
Modernize a Classic
Designer Chris Benz Puts OMG into LBD
When the little black dress is right, there is nothing else to wear in its place.
Wallis Simpson
D
Designer Chris Benz is noted for his artful use of brash color. But this rising young talent, who was inducted into the venerable Council of Fashion Designers of America at the age of 27, also knows his way around a little black dress. “The LBD is a foundation,” Benz says. “From there, find a way to push it in a new direction, like with a marabou scarf, colored tights, or an unusual pair of shoes.” Here are 13 accessories, from makeup to jewelry, that this wunderkind of the New York fashion world recommends to transform a staple into a scene-stealer. His own LBD, above, is the Maude Halter Dress in boiled satin, $1,495 by special order at 212-244-2020.
