The Little Black Dress by Clifford Thurlow

The short story “The Little Black Dress” by Clifford Thurlow is structured around the struggles of Vicky, she feels bored with her life. Vicky puts on a little black dress, that seems to be more that just a simple dress. Vicky symbolises the way, that sometimes in life, to be able to find yourself, you have to let go of everything that’s safe and familiar.

The themes in the little black dress, is about identity. You should never settle if you have the means and the strength to go to a better place. The first step in finding herself is her decision to buy the little black dress. Although Vicky’s life seems wonderful, she’s not content. Her relationship with Fergus is frustrating because they are two very different people. She hates the way Fergus treats her “She spends a long time sitting on the loo. It would be nice to find fault with Fergus, have a good row, break something, but Vicky doesn’t have the energy.” (p. 45, l. 20) because of Fergus, and her marriage to him, she represses her feelings and doesn’t talk to her sister, who is with another female, which Fergus disapproves of. “Rachel was living in Barcelona with an artist named Begonia. They came to the funeral together; both with hair cut boyishly short and matching ear-rings, and left after the service to return to Spain. They’re always asking her to go and visit but Fergus doesn’t approve of that sort of thing!” (p. 50, l. 2)

First, the little black dress symbolises change and Vicky’s need to change something in her life, the black dress is the element that changes her. The title of the story refers to the item of clothing that captures Vicky’s attention “That’s the thing with a little black dress. You can stand in the pub supping pints for hours in an anorak and no one gives you a second glance. You run a razor over your legs, slip on a dress and the world turns with infinite possibilities. “(p. 52, l. 5)

Wanting to feel something else, Vicky decides to put on the little black dress, and go out to a bar; there she meets a mysterious man. When Vicky meets the mysterious man in the bar, she feels a need to be free and Even if she can somehow sense that the man might be dangerous, she still goes out with him, and they head to a funfair.