The black dress. Infamous as much as it is famous. Every generation for the last hundred and fifty years have had a version of the little black dress. I decided to write this article after recently watching the episode of RuPaul's Drag Race, where they had the queens give their runaway versions of the classic. When I think of the term, my mind quickly goes to the image of a sleeveless knee length number paired with elbow length gloves and a massive brimmed hat. Classic right? Right, unless you're a fan of The Addams Family or Elvira. If you are you might know where I'm going with this.
The "black dress" in this regard, comes in two forms. The "Wednesday" version, of a button up knee length long sleeved dress shirt with a white collar and cuffs; always paired with knee socks and mary-janes. While the "Morticia" is a floor length skin tight number, with long sleeves and flowing pieces of lace and silk draping from the cuffs and knees to form a mermaid tail dress. Much like the Elvira version which differs only by the plunging neckline and slit up to her hip on the one leg.
Given the "Wednesday dress" is designed for a child, it's demeanour is more innocent. This is echoed with her carrying her doll around dressed in the same outfit. It's not until we see the character "dressing up" does she take on a similar outfit to her mother, or when the character enters into a teenaged romance in the second film from the 1990's. Suggesting a loss of innocence. This is fairly fitting given the fact that during the early half of the 19th century widows were expected to wear only black for many years after the loss of their spouse. (mother's were expected to wear black nearly indefinitely)
In the 1920's, Vogue published an article with mention of Coco Chanel's little black dress which set it pretty much in stone as being the workhorse of fashion, pointing out that it was suitable for all social classes and ages. This was only strengthened throughout the Great Depression, as the little black dress became more and more popular because it could be made in any material. No wonder that the simple garment has crossed generation gaps since. The language of the little black dress speaks volumes for the wearer; informing anyone who's had an eyeful that it's here to stay. In the case of our Morticia Addams, the little garment represented not only the times the original cartoon was drawn, but helped to rift up the social markers between the wealthy and less-so; as the little black dress was a wardrobe staple for all social levels. It also helped to indicate that the character is a witch.
To this day, the little black dress in either it's more innocent "Wednesday" version or it's more sultry "Morticia" version is the main fashion statement of rockers and goths bringing instantly to mind all the horror connections of vamps and witches.
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