The Little Black Dress (using separates!)

classic date night valentines day outfit black pleated skirt

Imperative Narrative pleated skirt XS + The Answer is Sheer top S c/o Modcloth, Hermes belt, Manolo Blahnik BB pumps

I don’t have many LBDs in my closet, but I love mixing and matching pieces to create my own versions of the timeless style. Aside from the pairing shown here, I’ve also worn this skirt simply with my black off-shouldered tee (reviewed here) as some of you saw on Snapchat. I was scrambling to get dressed for a party that night, and all black felt easy yet classic.

classic date night valentines day outfit black flare skirt
This skirt is my first piece from Modcloth’s in-house label, which a friend had mentioned to me runs on the smaller side. The XS fits like a 00 regular in most American brands, measuring 12.5″ across the waist.

little black dress modcloth mesh sweetheart top
The length of mine measures 23.5″ and is labeled a “midi-length” skirt. Please note I have it worn higher up on my waist here cinched by a belt, otherwise it normally hits an inch lower in length. The material is medium in weight with side pockets, concealed back zip, and a full lining – all in all good quality. The best part is you can machine wash it, and I can attest the pleats surprisingly did not even require ironing afterwards. This top is also listed as machine washable, but based on the very thin and delicate material, I would only hand wash it and lay flat to dry.

LBD modcloth black pleated skirt outfit banyan boston

Here’s a few other skirts from Modcloth that may run on the smaller side (love it when reviewers share their measurements!):

Ikebana floral skirt – loove the print. Reviewers say XS measures 24″ around the waist. Length is below the knee at 25″
Bugle Joy skirts in several solid colors & prints. XS measures 24″ around the waist and also 25″ long.
Navy dotted skirt – no reviews yet, but model is listed to have a 25″ waist and wearing a sz S, which sits high up on her waist. Comes in XS as well which is 18″ long.

 

Thank you Modcloth for partnering on this post! Photos taken at Banyan Boston.

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47 Comments

  1. Christina wrote:

    Hello! I am obsessed with this look! I’m not sure if you’ll see this, but I actually found this by google image searching a dress I was interested in on DHGate.com. I don’t know if you can do anything, but thought you’d want to know there is a seller using a cropped version of one of your pictures to sell a dress. I almost bought it for $99 before I researched and realized it doesn’t exist because it’s this and is made of separates. Glad I looked into it!

    Posted 6.22.20 Reply
  2. Anonymous wrote:

    I loved this outfit from your photos so much that I bought the outfit but only to find the quality to be very disappointing. The top is so thin that I thought I was going to rip it trying it on and the construction quality was pretty poor with the sweetheart part of the top to be uneven. I ended up buying another black skirt but was disappointed in the quality as well. All in all, my first and only shopping experience with ModCloth was not good.

    Posted 3.2.16 Reply
  3. Kim Evangelista wrote:

    Like another poster, what bra did you wear with your top! I love your look and classy style. You look wonderful!

    Posted 2.11.16 Reply
  4. Anca wrote:

    I love how you matched those two items. It looks as a single black dress. Just lovely.
    http://www.ancasdiary.com/en_US/

    Posted 2.7.16 Reply
  5. Chase Amie wrote:

    Why was this comment necessary?

    Posted 2.5.16 Reply
  6. thornsandclumps wrote:

    rude!

    Posted 2.4.16 Reply
  7. M wrote:
    Posted 1.31.16 Reply
  8. tellmeyblog.com wrote:

    Love your pairing here, definitely very classy!

    xx
    Yvonne
    http://tellmeyblog.com

    Posted 1.31.16 Reply
  9. mybeautrip wrote:

    That top is so chic!
    xx

    http://www.mybeautrip.com

    Posted 1.31.16 Reply
  10. Made in Mauve wrote:

    Love! You have such a great style and love your idea. Sometimes it's hard to find a great dress that fits.

    Made in MauveBloglovin

    Posted 1.30.16 Reply
  11. Camila wrote:

    Hi I just find your blog, and read about wearing skirt if you are extra petite, I saw that we are almoust the same mesure. I wanted to ask, maybe a personal question, if you can respond me by mail its better, what its your BMI, because I'm not sure if it is the same for tall person, I have always had this question.

    Posted 1.30.16 Reply
  12. Marina Summers wrote:

    These separates really made a gorgeous dress!

    http://www.marinasummers.com

    Posted 1.30.16 Reply
  13. Jen K wrote:

    You look beautiful! I love my Bugle Joy and Profound Pizzazz skirt…though it'll be awhile before I can fit into them again, lol.

    Jen
    http://www.lifeunrefined.com

    Posted 1.30.16 Reply
  14. Poshnessary com wrote:

    So so chic

    Kisses from http://www.poshnessary.com

    Posted 1.30.16 Reply
  15. Poshnessary com wrote:

    So so chic!

    Kisses from http://www.poshnessary.com

    Posted 1.30.16 Reply
  16. Vera wrote:

    Beautiful look!

    Blonde in Cashmere

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  17. Mei Liang wrote:

    Such an elegant look! Black is my go to color when I don't have time to put an outfit together. Always timeless and stylish.

    -Mei
    http://www.piecesofmei.com

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  18. MarianneSophia wrote:

    This is so beautiful!! Your outfit looks so glamorous! 🙂

    Marianne x http://www.beautiful-in-essence.blogspot.com

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  19. t'sshania wrote:

    You put this outfit together so beautifully, love the touch of green.. you look stunning.

    New post…
    http://www.itsshania.com/2016/01/25/color-me-tempt-berry/

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  20. Rachel wrote:

    You look stunning ! Perfect combo 🙂

    http://chicglamstyle.com

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  21. Julia Mazzucato wrote:

    I love the swiss dot illusion top. Modcloth is usually my go-to for unique and ladylike pieces like this dress. That length is so flattering too!
    Julia // Little Miss Haute Couture

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  22. Art Adorned wrote:

    Very cute pieces they make the perfect dress, you look amazing.
    http://artadorned.com/

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  23. Jenn wrote:

    I love how classy this is and recreating it with separates is a wonderful idea!

    a small bit | bloglovin | twitter

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  24. Julie Hiller wrote:

    Gorgeous look! I saw it on insta and never would have guessed it wasn't a full dress. That top is super cute and the skirt fits you perfectly!

    Lifestyle by Joules

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  25. Gwen Kennedy wrote:

    I was also going to ask about your hair. The whole look is so polished and chic! I'm always iffy about Modcloth, as sizes normally run large… so thank you for the tips!

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  26. Gwen Kennedy wrote:

    I was also going to ask about your hair. The whole look is so polished and chic! I'm always iffy about Modcloth, as sizes normally run large… so thank you for the tips!

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  27. Jothi wrote:

    Hi Jean! What bra did you wear with that top? Thanks

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  28. Lo wrote:

    TOTALLY unrelated, but can you do a post sometime (or maybe I should search back if you already have) on tailoring recommendations? I'm trying to be more diligent about getting my clothes altered to fit me, and the woman who hemmed my pants to my short legs urged me to get them just longer than I had cuffed them to, so I went with her recommendation, assuming she knew more than me. I now regret it as they bunch just a bit at the ankles and don't fit exactly into my booties. Since your clothes look impeccable and I know you treat them as such, do you have recommendations for where exactly your pants should hit your ankles and how to tell the tailor that, etc.? Is this something I should just be googling? 🙂

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  29. Esraa Bassiouny wrote:

    Beautiful. I love how you got this dress look from separates.
    http://dressmecasual.blogspot.com.eg/

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  30. ho_con986 wrote:

    Love the look. How wide is your belt?

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  31. Trang Do wrote:

    Beautiful dress!! Love this look!
    Xoxo,
    Love from http://www.trangscorner.com {a lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and food blog}

    Posted 1.29.16 Reply
  32. Deasy Noel wrote:

    This is such a cute outfit. I absolutely love the sheer polka-dotted top, and the skirt is so versatile <3

    http://www.deasynoel.com

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  33. Anonymous wrote:

    Nice outfit but the top looks too big on you and needs to be taken in at the shoulder seam. The bust portion is sitting too low on you and the yoke looks too long.

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  34. jennifer wrote:

    Jean, can you provide a tutorial on how you do your hair? I love it with this look!

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  35. Nicole's Novel Reads wrote:

    I love this look, Jean. The top and the skirt pair well to make a unique LBD.

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  36. Veronica V wrote:

    Love this blog! It's my go to whenever I need a new outfit 🙂 Has made finding petite friendly clothing SO much easier! I tried to buy the Ann Taylor Crystal Drops Statement Necklace featured in an earlier post, but it's sold out! If anyone here has it and is interested in selling it to me or has come across it somewhere – I would be eternally grateful. It's for my bridal shower 🙂

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  37. Jessica wrote:

    I have a somewhat similar shirt from Banana Republic (same sheer dots, different neckline). I've only ever paired it with a pencil skirt or suit but I'm loving this combo! Thanks for helping me see my shirt through fresh eyes!

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  38. rockinstrawberries wrote:

    THAT DRESS!! I love how it flares at the waist 🙂
    Jackie||Rockin' Strawberries

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  39. savorytouch wrote:

    Cute LBD creativity! Love the green suede pumps..
    I immediately thought of tapioca balls in your peachy-color drink lol.

    •.•°•.• savorytouch.wordpress.com •.•°•.•

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  40. Jenny Kim wrote:

    That length of skirt always looks frumpy on me, but you look like a million bucks.
    http://www.streetmadonna.com

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  41. Keri H wrote:

    Such a classy LBD. Love the silhouette and sheer panel. You look amazing 🙂

    Enclothed Cognition/Bloglovin

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  42. ayme nicole wrote:

    Very cute chic look. Reminds me of a sleek '50s housewife but modernized. Love the sheer shoulders on the top!

    coffeeslag

    COFFEESLAG Current Healthy Habits

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  43. Sasa Zoe wrote:

    Beautiful LBD! I love it<3

    Shall We Sasa

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  44. THE NEON FACTOR | Diana wrote:

    Lovely photos!

    || D I A N A ||
    http://www.TheNeonFactor.com

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  45. Amy Lana wrote:

    Can you pls pls show us how you do your hair?? =)

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  46. Joyce Pak wrote:

    What a cute pairing! I love the skirt and how it makes an unexpected and unique LBD!

    Characters & Carry-ons

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  47. Anjiline Sirsikar wrote:

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Posted 1.28.16 Reply

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