Need inspiration for styling a black dress? This guide will help you style your favorite LBD (and any LBD, for that matter) for every occasion.
From the debut of the Chanel’s “little black dress” with a drop waist, a cloche hat, and a strand of pearls the iconic style has been a favorite in many stylish wardrobes for the last century. That speaks volumes in the fashion world. I mean, what other piece of clothing transcends all trends, budgets, occasions and still is the go-to of all wardrobe essentials when you need to look chic in a hurry?
The perfect black dress will carry you throughout life’s beck and call to funerals, date nights, and casual Saturday afternoons. Because of this, you may be thinking, “LBDs are boring, overplayed, or what everyone is wearing…etc., fill in the blank.”
If that thought has crossed your mind, I encourage you to stop right there.
An LBD is arguably one of the most versatile pieces in a wardrobe, especially if you know how to style it. That’s the key, friends: styling. A simple black dress is a canvas to a great outfit when you add the right elements and accessories, be it as easy as a bold lip color and a sleek ponytail, or with a few more bells and whistles.
That’s what we’re getting into in this post: learn how to style a black dress for any occasion. We’ll review different styling options and outfit ideas with five, different black dresses. And I can assure you, whether you have an event to go to or not, you’ll make an excuse to grab your favorite LBD from your closet and wear it out this week!
This post is all about styling a black dress.
How To Style A Black Dress
When styling a black dress, think of the dress as the canvas, or the backdrop to your outfit. If you’re working with a simple LBD, you’ll most likely need to add additional clothing or accessories to create an interesting look. However, having the option to wear the dress as a one-and-done piece is also an important aspect of the item’s versatility in your closet, especially if you lean towards a minimalist wardrobe.
Because of the simplicity of a basic black dress, it’s important to consider the size and style of the dress is flattering for your body type. Black is considered a slimming color because it naturally minimizes volume. Certain styles flatter specific body shapes over others, so make sure you shop for the style that looks amazing on you.
Black dresses come in the following styles: dressy, casual, and statement. Owning a dress in each of these categories is my recommendation for a typical wardrobe. I wear each of these dresses year-round with different layering pieces and accessories.
A capsule wardrobe can definitely do fine with one LBD, but if you’re anything like me, you can’t fight the urge to collect a few more coveted pieces because variety is the spice of life (and you’re just obsessed with fashion, TBH). However, if you’re on a tight budget or paring back your wardrobe, three pieces give you plenty of options.
Now, let’s dive into the different ways to wear a black dress!
Black Dress Outfit Ideas
Black Dress With Red Shoes
Black and red are the ultimate sexy color duo, perfect for date nights! Whether it’s a pair of tall suede boots or a strappy pair of sandals, red shoes look great with a statement lip color to tie the entire LBD outfit together.
Pieces of pop throughout your outfit will help you stand out without going overboard. If you’re not into a bold lip color, try a red clutch or ruby jewelry for ways to accessorize a black dress.
Black Dress Outfit For Wedding
How to style a black dress for a wedding? The key is to style it with elevated accessories, which is one of my favorite style tips for how to dress better. You can purchase a black cocktail dress for under $120, but style with premium or luxury accessories to look expensive and elegant.
Black dresses look best when styled with monochromatic accessories, or with an accent color or matching print. Prints that contain the color black are the most cohesive when styling a black outfit. Try animal prints or contrasting colors for a bold aesthetic or go for something subtle like dark brown leather.
All types of precious metals and hardware look great with black dresses. Mixing shiny gold and shiny silver creates a chic, two-tone element to your outfit.
How To Dress Up A Simple Black Dress For A Formal Event
Add a touch of something elegant to elevate the effect of a simple black dress. Fine jewelry, diamonds (or gemstones), and nice costume jewelry always make a black dress look more elegant. You can also use texture such as silk, satin, sequin, fascinators, or lace.
Sometimes, going minimal chic is the perfect style for a black dress at a formal affair. Use flattering makeup, lip color, and nail polish to give your look the sophistication it needs.
Little Black Dress Business Casual
Make an LBD workwear appropriate with a pair of sheer black tights, minimalist flats, and a contrasting blazer The contrast helps tone down the formality of the black dress. Then, you can lose the blazer for happy hour or a dinner date after work.
What denier tights to wear with a black dress? It depends on your skin color, but 30 denier (pictured above) is a good option for year-around wear. However, if you’re looking for darker colors and thicker tights, definitely go up to 40 or 50 denier. A lightweight tight such as 10 or 20 denier is good for warm weather.
Black Dress Outfit With Boots
Styling boots with a black dress is one of my personal favorites when the weather’s not warm enough for sandals (which is like 8-9 months of the year where I live). Black boots with a black dress also add a bit of edge to an outfit for a cool girl aesthetic.
If your black dress has a print or pattern on it, the best accessories are monochrome (black), so they don’t compete with the rest of the outfit. However, a bolder alternative would be monochrome accessories in another color from the print.
Black Dress Outfit For Party
Styling a little black dress for a party is an opportunity to go all in with your outfit. Experiment with statement accessories and just have fun. If you can’t have fun at a party, when can you?
How To Style A Black Dress For Winter
How to style a black dress for winter? The answer is two-fold for the perfect winter LBD outfit: layers and insulated tights. That’s how I get away with waiting outside a concert venue on a cold, winter’s night without freezing over.
And then we have tall boots…my favorite dress shoes in winter. Tall boots with dresses any day of the week, and any season of the year. Whether it’s an over-the-knee boot or a knee-high boot, they make any winter dress outfit look incredibly chic and modern.
How TO Dress Down A Cocktail Dress
Use accessories to dress down an LBD. Edgy belts, matte metals, flat shoes, and pops of color or prints can all help to make an outfit less dressy.
How To Style A Black Dress CasUALLY
Dress down a black dress with a casual statement piece like a vest or jacket, or a pair of casual chic sandals, boots, flats, or sneakers.
How To Style A Black Maxi Dress
A black denim jacket keeps your outfit cohesive and in the same color family for a stylish everyday outfit.
Layer a knit cardigan or a sweater with a black dress outfit for fall or winter.
Jackets For Black Dresses
Short dresses tend to look best with shorter or cropped jackets due to the rule of thirds (proportions). Avoid a jacket that cuts your body in half and go for a style that’s either 1/3, 2/3 or the full length of your body. Jackets that hit at the same hem length as your LBD also look well put-together.
Make that sheer LBD more versatile with a relaxed shirt jacket, belted for a casual chic outfit. Plus, it covers your back making it more appropriate for different settings, including day dress outfits.
Add a classic black blazer to a simple black dress for a chic funeral outfit. Opt for a blazer that’s semi-fitted and tailored rather than oversized for the most flattering look.
Shoes For A Black Dress
The best color shoes for a black dress are in black, your skin color, or in a patterned shoe that also includes the the color black. Solid black shoes are the most formal of all styles for your LBD.
I’ve covered a multitude of different shoes for a black dress in this related article: The Perfect Shoes For A Black Dress.
Trying to look taller? A black dress outfit with tan heels or shoes that match your skin color (or hosiery color) is the best way to elongate your legs. This is one of the best hacks for petite dressing, even when styling a pair of flats. Pointy toe or elongated almond and square toe styles give the most length.
This post was all about styling a black dress
Related Posts:
