The little black dress – it’s the ultimate in style versatility. Almost every woman has one in her closet, but few maximize its potential. A plus size little black dress can look sleek and professional in the workplace – and still be dressy enough to wear out for a night on the town with a change in accessories. It’s a wardrobe enhancer no woman should be without. Here’s how to wear a black dress with style and versatility during the day – and into the evening too.

The LBD at the Office
Not all little black dresses are appropriate for the office unless you dress them down. But even a strappy little number is appropriate for the workplace with a few modifications. To turn a skimpy LBD into office attire, wear it over a colorful turtleneck or a silk blouse underneath to expose less skin.

Get even more mileage out of a skimpy LBD by pairing it with a tweed jacket or blazer – and wrap a stylish scarf around your neck. Make it office-elegant by belting a long cardigan or duster over it and slipping on a pair of black pumps. Wear a pull-over sweater on top to cover the thin straps. It’ll look like you’re wearing a sweater and black skirt. Going out after work? Simply pull off the sweater and add eye-catching jewelry and a strappy pair of heels.

The LBD After Work
Work’s over, and you’re ready for a night on the town. Your LBD can still steal the show when you dress it up with glitzy accessories. Find an elegant black silk clutch or a sequined bag to carry, if the evening is ultra-dressy. Add some long dangle earrings in clear glass or crystal to reflect the light or put on a crystal necklace. Slip out of those office-weary pumps, and replace them with a pair of peep-toe shoes or strappy heels in black, of course. Wear them with ultra-sheer black stockings. Resist the urge to go overboard with accessories. Focus on the neck or the ears with one dramatic piece – not both. You can even add a sheer evening shawl for added interest.

The LBD Goes Casual
The LBD is perfect for playtime too. Put aside your heels and wear your black dress with tights and a pair of ballet flats. Throw on a faded denim jacket, then slip on a pair of slouchy black boots. Don’t forget to add some funky jewelry to complete the look. Another alternative is to wear a black dress belted with a pair of leggings and black boots – or wear it with black tights, black boots and a black leather jacket for days you want to be a biker chick. Who says an LBD can’t be fun?

Enjoy Wearing Your LBD Almost Anytime!
Don’t keep that LBD hidden in the back of your closet waiting for a party or special event. It’s one of the most versatile pieces you own. Dress it up, or dress it down – but put it to work making you look chic and stylish.

Are you keeping a little black dress in the back of your closet? As LBD isn’t just for evening. Find out how to wear it to the office and dress it down for casual days. Discover the versatility of this “must-have” fashion piece.

If you listen to the commentators, they all sing the same song. We’ve now entered the internet age. This is supposed to convince us something new and wonderful has happened. It’s such a complete break with the past it heralds the beginning of a new information age in which, somehow, we can all get ahead and do things never possible before. This is, of course, pure rubbish. The only difference between the digital age and the hard-copy age that went before it is the ease of access. Having a PC or some other online device gives you access to a vast library with a search engine to help you find the pages you need more easily. But, when you have the right page on the screen in front of you, it’s the same words you could have found in a book or some other written material. All that’s changed is the way the words are presented to you.

So, if you go back in time, printed words have always been used to manipulate people. They sell ideas to you. This means real power lies in the power to control access the means of publication. If a group can control what gets printed and distributed, the words can always tell the same story. But if the means of publication is open to other voices, this can give a completely different view of the world. This is why reputations can be made or unmade depending on who has the power to publish.

The problem for modern companies is anyone today can start up a blog or website. Many internet services are free to use. Similarly, the networking sites like Facebook allow people to write their opinions and describe their experiences. In the past, we would never get to hear Anne from Denver bought a steam cleaner that sprayed boiling water over her hands. Now she can write it and thousands of people can tweet it. It makes it very difficult for manufacturers and service providers to protect their reputations. This explains, in part, why insurance companies very rarely allow interaction on their sites. Since they cannot control what sometimes angry customers may say, they try to deny them a voice. Except there are now some very high profile sites on which people can complain about bad products and services. This movement is not yet sufficient to damage the vast insurance industry, but individual companies are finding it more difficult to prevent their reputations from slowly washing away.

This makes the recent announcement of a new online forum all the more encouraging. The intention is to allow people from both sides of the insurance relationship a chance to ask questions and have their say. Instead of a blank screen on which insurers give you the news they think you should hear, you can now ask about how to get more affordable car insurance rates, what to do if a claims adjuster low-balls the fair market value offer, and so on. This does not mean everyone on the forum will be an “innocent” consumer. There will inevitably be anonymous industry experts giving balancing views and opinions. But this is a hopeful sign of change. You may even get cheap car insurance quotes because of pressure through forums like this.