To understand the imperative of the little black dress, we must turn to the scene in Breakfast at Tiffany's, when Audrey Hepburn's Holly Golightly emerges from the bathroom dressed for her weekly to visit Sally Tomato in Sing Sing.

Although Hepburn wears other black dresses in film, the clean design of her slim sleeveless outfit is still fresh and modern after more than forty years. But as perfect as that iconic dress was for her, it's not the right silhouette for every woman.

In my style seminars, I bring in a similar dress (a slim, sleveless, back-zipped shift with a boat neck), and typically only 2 out of every 10 women are able to wear it. Every woman needs to know how to find a dress that matches her particular body type. In this case, let's work from the classic Breakfast at Tiffany's model: a sructured black dress that can go from day to night and lend itself as a canvas to accessories.

STEP 1: Identify Your Body Type
In order to get a little black dress that works for your body and your wardrobe, you have to understand what looks good on you - a deceptively simple task. To do this, take a good look at your body and match it to one of these four basic silhouettes:

• Rectangular: You are shaped a little like a boy, with a longer torso that goes right into your hips. This shape - in which the torso and the hips are often in a straight line - is usually accompanied by a broader shoulder and a slightly flat chest. Solution: You need to create the illusion of curves by picking a dress with a slightly empire shape. Look for details like a pine (piping or stiching) about three inches (7.5cm) under the bust. This will give you a waistline where there is none and naturally enhance your bust.
   
• Hourglass: You are voluptuous woma, with a bigger chest, and intended waistn and a noticeable curve to your hips. Solution: You will look best in an A-line dress that 'grabs' your waist and flows out over your hips, accompanied by a fitted top with darts and a V-neck, which particularly flattering to a larger bust line.
   
• Top Heavy: You have wider shoulders and larger breasts with a torso that tapers down to an intended waist, slim hips, and thin legs. Solution: Look for a dress with a draped (perhaps even slightly blouson) top and fitted skirt that 'grabs' you where you are the slimmest: the lower half of your body.
   
• Bottom Heavy: You have wide hips and a slim torso, the opposite of 'Top Heavy' above. Solution: Your shape will be enhanced bye a fitted top and straight skirt that is wider at the hips and falls straight (a 'pipe' shape), unlike pencil skirt that tapers at the knee.

STEP 2: Accessorize your dress to go from the office to a nighttime function.
For junior executives and assistants, an appropriate daytime/work is a cardigan over your dress (with the sleeves pushed up to make it interesting), diamond stud earrings (or any reasonable facsimile), and some pearls. Then funk it up at night by adding a black tight and a riding or stretch leather fitted boot with slender high heel. Tuck a lightweight turtleneck under your dress, or throw a cable knit sweater or leather jacket over it.

For those in an executive or 'boardroom' position, create a daytime look by adding a blazer - but not boxy, 'eighties' power version. You want a little cropped blazer with a notched- collar jacket and a one button closure to accent the waist and maybe three-quarter sleeves for a casual look. At night, tie a scarf around your throat and tuck it into the neckline of the dress. Add a pair of sling backs, a little clutch, and throw a cardigan over your shoulders.

As explained by Mark Gill of MG Worldwide Inc - He was named as"top contributor" and "top in worldwide sales" after a year landing his job at Banana Republic. He was also a consultant for Jill Sander and had already started his own handbag collection, producing his fashion shows to showcase international and local designers. (PSBC/UKPR/DS07)