Basic black is just that, basic. The thing that makes a black dress stand apart from a little black dress (as in the lbd) is what makes the dress different than the myriad other options out there. In this black dress the dress is a little bit clingy (which can be good) and the sleeves are a little bit poufy (also can be good), but it's the daring open back that elevates this dress to my lbd list.

So alpha-female-does-dinner-and-drinks. Or, alternately, what to wear when you want to show some skin but there's snow on the ground.