When in 1926 Coco Chanel introduced her little black dress, it was not just a design decision it was a manifesto. She freed black from mourning and turned it into the The little black dress (LBD) was popularizedand effectively invented as a modern fashion stapleby French designer Coco Chanel in 1926. At a time when black was largely associated with mourning, Chanel introduced Little Black Dress Chanel 1926 18 La Petite Robe Noir Ideas To Save Today Little Black Everything You Need to Know About the Little Black Dress Vogue