Black Magic Woman

You have a glamorous evening event, you're not sure what to wear, and time is running out. What do you instinctively reach out for? For many of us, it won't be the vibrant dress and the bold jacket, but instead, the little black dress and the black coat. Dressing head-to-toe in black is the gift that keeps on giving. From Audrey Hepburn's famous Givenchy dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's to Elizabeth Hurley in Versace's iconic safety-pin dress in the 90s, the black dress has always been the go-to for glamour.

It wasn't aways the case of course. Up until, and throughout the Victorian period, the black dress was still reserved exclusively for mourning, but with the societal shifts in the 1920s, the black dress was liberated from its own morbidity, glitzed up for dance halls filled with Flappers. Black has many advantages when it comes to womenswear. For one, it is very flattering on the figure, and dressing entirely in black lends an elegance and minimalism that seems somehow transformative. One just feels different wearing black.

This season at Favourbrook, we have created a number of black garments that encapsulate its inherent sophistication. 

Coats and Jackets

A black coat or jacket cut in either silk or velvet is a seductive and chic way to make a statement look, especially when dressing for the evening. One of our favourite styles this season is inspired by Yves Saint Laurent's original 'le Smoking' - the dinner jacket he created for the female figure. The Library jacket is styled on our very successful men’s smoking jacket, with classic contrasting collar and cuff detail, finished with a corded edge and held closed with classic frog fastening. With a subtle embroidery detail, it's the perfect partner for our black palazzo pants and velvet lounge pants, in place of an LBD. 

For a longer, svelte silhouette, our Long Swing Coat in Black Gethin silk velvet is a masterfully handcrafted piece. This slim-line style features a grown-on collar creating a sleek neckline and very flattering silhouette. Contrast silk piping and hand-covered contrasting silk button detailing makes this coat a truly stand-out piece for this season and can be worn over our silk camisole dress or our black jumpsuit.

For a shorter silhouette, our Virginia Jacket Black Gold Brynn Silk Velvet style is an excellent option. Effortlessly chic and supremely comfortable, this softly tailored silk coat with fluted sleeves is the perfect winter layer, and is extremely versatile with both smart and casual ensembles. It works especially well with cigarette pants or our black silk velvet lounge pants, as well as our Serena Circle dress.

Dresses

The LBD, as the Little Black Dress has come to be known, is possibly one of the most versatile pieces in a woman's wardrobe. Sophisticated through the day, while entirely glamorous and elegant in the evening, the LBD is a non-negotiable garment in discerning wardrobes. Our own version of the LBD comes in the way of our Serena Circle dress, which features a scoop neck, three-quarter sleeves, and a satin belt with bow detail, with a flirty circle skirt. Effortlessly feminine and undeniably flattering, it is remarkably easy to style with one of our statuesque black velvet coats. 

Another style we have created riffs on the traditional silk satin slip dress. It's a slinky long-line camisole dress that makes for a very versatile eveningwear option, cut from heavy crepe satin. It can be worn on its own with one of our feminine dinner jackets for a very sophisticated and modern look.

Trousers and Jumpsuits

The LBD deserves its plaudits but that's not the only black trick up our collective sleeves. Black trousers and jumpsuits can make for stunning eveningwear options, too, no less mesmerising than the dress. Our casul-fit jumpsuit is cut from soft viscose and features three-quarter-length sleeves, and a V-neck. It can be worn both day and night, but we especially enjoy seeing it styled with bold jewellery and a velvet coat for soirees.

Our black trousers come in two shapes - the beautifully fluid palazzo pant, cut from silk georgette with a fitted lining, as well as our new black velvet lounge pants, which have a straighter leg and can be styled with our ladies' dinner jackets or even a black waistcoat.