Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear to a wake?

Something dark, modest and comfortable to stand in. Funeral.com, covering what to wear to a wake, says many families now treat black as optional, suggests black, navy, charcoal, deep brown or muted gray as the easiest default, describes a wake as usually less formal than the service that follows, and recommends a knee-length or longer dress with a cardigan or blazer, closed-toe flats or low heels, and no very short hemlines or very low necklines. It adds that a family request, like wearing bright colors, comes first. For a wake outfit from this edit, the ruched mesh long sleeve midi keeps a square neckline and long sleeves, and its plus size twin does the same in XL to 3XL.

What should I wear to a memorial service?

A solid, dark dress at the knee or below, with a little coverage. Farewelling, covering what to wear to a memorial service, says neutral and subdued colors are considered appropriate, lists black, gray, navy and dark brown as common choices, recommends a solid, dark dress at knee or midi length with a modest neckline, and suggests sleeves or a lightweight cardigan. It also says slightly overdressed beats underdressed, and calls the family's wishes about attire essential. The black floral ruched midi with long sleeves and the Ruffle Shoulders Turtleneck midi both fit that brief.

What color shoes go with a black dress?

Nude, black, metallic or a pop of red. Vionic, answering what color shoes to wear with a black dress, calls nude shoes a choice that never fails because they make legs look longer, says black shoes create a cohesive, elegant finish that is especially striking at formal events, says gold, silver and rose gold add instant glamour, and says red heels instantly draw the eye. It also suggests leopard or snakeskin as a textured neutral and jewel tones like emerald, sapphire or amethyst for formal events and autumn and winter styling. So if you're asking what shoes to wear with black dress looks for a formal night, go black for one clean line or metallic for glamour, and pick nude when you want longer legs.

Can you wear tights with a black dress?

Yes, and the thickness decides the look. The Well Dressed Life's guide to tights says denier measures thickness, that opaque tights start at 30 denier, where you can't see the leg through them, and that sheers start around 20 denier. It pairs opaques with dresses of a similar weight, like knits and ponte, with ankle, knee-high or over-the-knee boots rather than pumps, and says sheers work well with cocktail dresses and a pointed pump. So a black dress with tights for evening means sheer black and a heel, while opaque black tights turn a long sleeve midi like the ruched mesh style into a cold-weather outfit.

Black Dresses

Black never asks for permission. It walks into the gala, the cocktail bar and the late dinner like it was always on the list, and nobody questions it. This edit picked each black dress to do that job, from lace that whispers to sequins that shout, in lengths that run from the knee to the floor.

Shopping black dresses for women who want one color and zero guesswork? Start with the length, then the fabric, then the invite. Here, the black dress you choose can carry a dress code on its own, so all it needs from you is heels, a clutch and somewhere to be.

Midi, made for every invite

Right in the middle is where black works hardest. In the black midi dress line-up, the Midnight In London styles drop off one shoulder into an asymmetric ruffle hem, the Pearl Strap midi hangs from strings of pearls with built-in bra cups and little sleeve bows, and the Loren Runway striped bandage style sits off the shoulder in cap sleeves above an empire waist.

Want coverage with your curves? For a midi black dress with sleeves, the Midnight Allure has shimmering mesh sleeves and a subtle back slit, and the ruched mesh long sleeve midi hugs with a square neckline and a nipped waist. The flared-sleeve off-shoulder midi is listed for cocktails, evening events and date nights, which makes it the easy yes when the plan keeps changing.

Floor-length and fearless

Going long? In the black maxi dress edit, the high-slit bandage maxi brings a halter neck, a deep V, a bare back and a high front slit in stretch bandage. Prefer romance? The Valerie lace mermaid stacks soft chiffon tiers down to a ruffled lace hem, and our plus size floral lace maxi adds lace cap sleeves and a draped twist, which covers the black lace dress brief from both directions.

Shopping for a long black dress with presence? The Meredith sequin gown pairs a deep V with an open back and a red-carpet silhouette, and the backless sequin maxi trails into a mermaid fishtail. Want a black long dress with sleeves? Our sequin mermaid that slips off the shoulder covers the arms and sweeps the floor with its train, and as a black long sleeve dress maxi pick, the star-print high-slit styles pair sheer sleeves with a corset-fitted waist. Want the elegant version? For a black long dress elegant enough for candlelight, the Valerie and the backless satin maxi lead.

Black tie, formal and gowns

Invite says black tie? Floor length is the rule, so start with the Black Sequins High Slit Ball Gown, which bares one shoulder, sweeps a kimono sleeve over the other arm and gathers at the hip. That one doubles as the elegant black ball gown of the edit, and the geometric sequin mermaid in black plunges front and back. Prefer a midi with black-tie manners? The Ruffles Shoulders corset style names black-tie events outright.

Shopping black formal dresses? For black formal dresses for women who like a little leg, the high-slit bandage maxi is cut for formal evenings, and for a formal black dress with coverage, the off-shoulder sequin mermaid gets called elegant and chic for formal events. Need black formal dresses with sleeves? The star-print maxis with sheer long sleeves list formal events too, so the black dress long sleeve formal question answers itself. Shopping black formal dresses for weddings? The plus size backless satin maxi and the sequin backless maxi each name weddings as a guest. Need a long black dress formal enough for a gala? Pick any black gown here, and among elegant black evening dresses, the Valerie was made for exactly that kind of night.

Cocktail hour, sorted

Cocktails at eight? Here, the black cocktail dress comes in more than one mood. As a black cocktail dress with sleeves, the flared-sleeve off-shoulder midi is listed for cocktails and wedding guest plans, and as a black cocktail dress with long sleeves, the black floral print midi gets pitched for parties and cocktails. Need black cocktail dresses for weddings? The Backless Rhinestone Strap midi works as a cocktail dress and its description pitches it for black-tie weddings too.

Prefer unique black cocktail dresses? The Ruby Rendezvous adds hand-sewn ruby beads, a deep V and side and back cut-outs for a gala or cocktail night, and Glamour Night comes covered in large crystal stones, gloves included.

Prom, homecoming and big nights

Big dance on the calendar? For a black prom dress, the Ruffles Shoulders corset style lists proms, the Meredith names prom among its occasions, and our strapless feather maxi in XS to 2XL trims the neckline in feathers over a cut-out and a high side slit. Shopping black homecoming dresses? The plus size floral lace maxi lists homecoming among its occasions, sizes XL to 6XL.

Corsets, two-tones and long sleeves

Want shape without trying? As a black corset dress, the Ruffles Shoulders style brings a corset-style bodice under ruffle shoulders in XS to 3XL, and the Pearl Strap midi gets its sculpted line from a bodycon corset fit. Two-tone more your thing? As a black and white dress, the striped strapless mini alternates black and white bandage stripes from bust to hem. For a black and gold dress, the polka dot high-low style adds a ruffle V-neck and a sweeping train, and the Adriana pearl blazer dress in gold is hand-embellished with gold pearls and crystals.

Cold night ahead? As a long sleeve black dress, the ruched mesh midi and the off-shoulder sequin mermaid keep arms covered without hiding the shape, and as a black long sleeve dress with velvet texture, the sheer-contrast holiday midi is made for holiday parties and New Year's.

Plus size, all the way up

Curves get the full menu. The floral lace maxi runs XL to 6XL, the art-nouveau sequin maxi runs L to 4XL, the star-print high-slit maxi comes in L to 4XL, and the backless satin maxi, the ruched mesh long sleeve midi and the all-over sequin maxi run XL to 3XL. Here, plus size black dresses cover lace, satin, sequin and mesh, so the only thing left to choose is the night.

Want it shorter? The little black dress edit has the minis. More shine lives in sequin dresses, floor-length in evening gowns, and curves in plus size maxi dresses. Finish it with high heels and a handbag.