A little black dress is a must-have in your wardrobe. They are just apt for partying. They look elegant and at the same time show just right amount of skin to create enough appeal. Houston fashion-lovers too were enchanted with the appeal of little black dresses when the House of Blues hosted the fourth annual Little Black Dress Project on 8th May, Tuesday. The event took place before about 200 fashion enthusiasts in the Bronze Peacock Room presenting the designs of over thirty contestants.
Designers from Louisiana, Texas and 
Oklahoma presented their designs in the Project. Their assignment was from Jeff Shell, the creator of the Project and the director of the Neal Hamil Agency and it was ‘Create your Vision for the Little Black Dress’.
The select committee first narrowed the winners’ list to 16 and a judges’ panel chose ten winners on a point system. They ranked the apparels on the basis of creativity, style and saleability. However the judges came to know about the final selection only after Shell announced it.
Eric Tovar who was formerly an accountant but aspired to be a fashion designer and joined Houston Community College fashion designing course entered the contest for second time and won it. He had designed a black chiffon dress having leather detailing together with bodice and neck. This was called by the judges as the perfect blend of tough and tender fashion, just a right fall trend. Tovar created the dress with a view to remain timeless yet modern, and a feminine dress, yet with some masculinity with leather.
The designers presented chic designs with trendy features like exposed backs, lace trim and peplum jackets. Top 5 winners received $7,500 scholarship. Tovar obtained $2,500 scholarship.
Mfon Ogbonna, a Houston Community College student was second in the contest. She was followed by University of North Texas student, Bao Tran, Houston’s Art Institute’s student, Chanel Latouch and Chinaza Moses, again a HCC student. Other winners included four more HCC students Rasheka Gomes, Jessica Obaseki, Jose Reyes and Martha Mtegha and an independent contestant Kathleen Sheldon.
The designs presented by these 
designers seemed to be created remembering what Coco Chanel, the famous designer had once said and Jeff Shell remembered while announcing the winners, ‘Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.’
