DRESSED IN BLACK

Outfitting whip-wielding leather S&M fiends and homily-blaring Bible-thumpers alike, black clothing has come to mean everything to everyone. But perhaps no garment has had as many incarnations as the little black dress. This lavish photo retrospective of midnight-hued confections over the past century (accompanied by detailed explanations of each creation's construction and historical context) is a fashionista's dream. And whether one's tastes run to the frivolously feathered Givenchy, the sleekly draped Donna Karan, or the racy, brassiere-festooned Moschino, there really is a black frock for every occasion. B+