Back in black

What: “Little Black Dress”

When: 7:30 p.m., Thursday

Where: Amsterdam Bar and Hall, 6 W. Sixth St., St. Paul

Cost: Free

As essential as a cup of coffee is to morning is the little black dress to a woman’s wardrobe. It can be worn formally, casually, in the office and on the town — all the while radiating sexiness and refinement.

It’s a trend that’s stood the test of time — everyone from Holly Golightly to Posh Spice would agree. To celebrate this inherent and fond connection among black dress wearers across the Twin Cities, MN Fashion Week has challenged top local designers to present their interpretation of the classic clothing article in the aptly titled show “Little Black Dress.”

Of the 13 designers, each showing two looks (one black dress and one of their choosing), Danielle Everine is one who especially stands out. Her recent stint on “Project Runway” generated plenty of local buzz (you may have even attended the viewing parties downtown). Tim and Heidi may have squandered her shot at immediate national success, but the scope of her talent extends far beyond the 15 minutes of television fame.

“If there’s anything I learned from my ‘Project Runway’ experience it’s that while my work is important, it’s also important for me to express myself and to let people see that,” Everine said.

Establishing a lasting connection to people through her work may seem easy, but Everine works constantly at retaining it through provoking thought. For example, in fall of 2010 her joint show with Raul Osorio, “Pale Rider,” posed questions of gender expectations through juxtapositions of delicate and sturdy fabric. For fall, she’s designing a line for Cliché that’s influenced by 20th-century travel and whaling.

“My fiancé has a sailboat that he races, and it got me thinking,” Everine said. “I had so much inspiration thinking about people’s travels and the sacrifices they make. I’m interested in taking people on journeys.”

This kind of contemplative approach is typical of Everine and it transfers to her approach to “Little Black Dress.”

“The essence of the little black dress is that it’s special to you in some way,” Everine said. “Though it can be subtle, it’s always a go-to thing if you’re not sure how to dress.”

For Everine’s look, she’s opted to focus on texture, using both her characteristic sheer fabrics (Minneapolis is still swooning over her Voltage 2011 line) and also details like beading and layers.

From George Moskal to Sarah Holm, every look is certain to be unique to the designer and it will be exciting to observe the subtleties.

Everine divulged about the little black dress that first stole her heart.

“It was an Anna Sui dress with pretty black lace,” Everine said. “It was just … perfect.”

The little black dress may be standard, but that doesn’t mean it can’t stand out, and if this runway show is out to prove anything, it’s just that.