Fashion
8 Ways to Style a Black Dress: Styling Guide
8 Best Ways to Style a Black Dress
A black dress works harder than almost anything else in your wardrobe, provided you know what to change around it. Swap the shoes, the jacket and the jewellery, and the same dress goes from a nine o'clock meeting to a black tie dinner without you needing a second outfit. Here's how to make it work for eight completely different occasions.
How to style a black dress for the office
Add a blazer and swap your sandals for flats, and the dress goes from evening to workwear in about ten seconds. A fitted blazer in navy or camel breaks up the black nicely, and a slim belt adds some shape through the waist. Skip anything strappy for closed-toe flats or a low block heel, then keep the jewellery simple, small gold or silver studs do the job, so the whole look sits comfortably on the corporate side. If the office air-con runs cold, our black essentials have blazers and layers built to sit over this dress.
Weekend styling tips for a black dress
White sneakers and a denim jacket turn the same dress into your Saturday uniform. Roll the sleeves up, throw a canvas tote over one shoulder, and you've got something easy enough for a grocery run or brunch with a friend. Chunky sneakers or slides keep it comfortable, and a cap or sunglasses give it that just-thrown-together energy without actually looking thrown together. This is the version of the dress you don't have to think about.
How to style a black dress for brunch or a daytime event
Lightweight, breathable fabrics like linen or linen-blend cotton are the most comfortable choice for a summer winery visit, especially across a warm afternoon spent partly outdoors. Softer colours and simple prints suit the setting without competing with the scenery.
A linen dress or a linen co-ord set is close to ideal for this brief, since it breathes well and still looks considered for a vineyard lunch. Our linen outfits collection covers both dresses and separates for exactly this kind of day.
How to style a black dress for the races
Racing season gives a black dress room to move. On Oaks Day, Cup Day or Stakes Day, a bright or pastel fascinator and matching clutch lift all that black, with block heels or wedges over anything thin-heeled for grass and gravel.
Derby Day is the Melbourne Cup Carnival's opening day, it runs on a strict black-and-white dress code, so swap that colour for a monochrome fascinator or wide-brim hat, keep the silhouette structured, and finish with black or white heels and a matching clutch. Browse SHEIKE'd race day dresses for the track, and the full spring racing outfits edit for the full range of choices.
How to style a black dress as a wedding guest outfit
A wedding calls for a black dress with a bit more shine or texture than your everyday one. Most Australian weddings land in the cooler months between June and August, so a long sleeve or midi style with a coat or wrap over the top works well for the ceremony before the reception warms things up. Check the invitation first, some couples do ask guests to leave black at home. For more inspiration, check out our full range of wedding guest dresses.
Black dress styling tips for a date night
Pick one thing to stand out, a red lip, a big pair of earrings, or a bag in a colour that catches the eye, and let everything else sit quietly. That one detail is doing all the work, so there's no need to layer on more. Heeled sandals or ankle boots depending on the weather, plus a slim gold necklace, and you're done without looking like you tried too hard.
Styling a black dress for a cocktail party
Heels, a clutch and jewellery with a bit more shine move this dress from day into evening pretty fast. A satin or beaded clutch and drop earrings carry most of the look. If the dress has long sleeves or sits a little higher at the neck, heels with an interesting strap or a metallic finish add the polish the night calls for. Our black cocktail dresses are worth a look if you'd rather start with one made for evenings from the outset.
How to style a black dress for a black tie event
This is the one occasion where more shine is actually the right call. Go for a floor-length or maxi cut, then add fine jewellery, heels and a small evening bag, think metallic heels, drop earrings and a clutch just big enough for the essentials. A wrap or shawl is worth carrying too, for the walk to the car if nothing else. If you need something built specifically for the occasion, our black tie dresses collection runs from column gowns to fitted midi styles.
Same dress, eight occasions, and the only thing that changes is what you put around it. If you're starting from scratch, our black dresses collection is the place to begin, or head to the Little Black Dress Edit for pieces made to work this hard from day one.
FAQ
Do you have to wear black to a black tie event?
Black's the safest, most traditional choice, though very dark navy or emerald can work too. If you're not sure, stick with black, since the dress code exists to keep the room looking cohesive.
What shoes go best with a black dress?
Depends on where you're going. Flats or block heels for the office and daytime, a heeled sandal or metallic heel once you're heading into cocktail or black tie territory.
Is a black dress appropriate for a job interview?
Yes, it's one of the safer choices you can make for an interview. Keep the accessories minimal, add a blazer if you want it to feel more corporate, and go with flats or a low heel.
