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The 1926 garment would go on to become a fashion staple, so well-known that it is often referred to simply by the acronym LBD. Its a mythic origin story, Georgina Ripley, a curator of modern and contemporary design at the National Museum of Scotland, tells BBC News Pauline McLean

All black-tie-optional dresses need to touch the floor or the wearer's ankles, since anything above the knee will be too casual for the occasion

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As the phenomenon spread, it drew the attention of scientists and psychologists who sought to understand the reasons behind the differing perceptions