Shop the Black Evening Dresses We’d Actually Wear

I spent about six years thinking a black evening dress was what you wore when you’d run out of better ideas. My flatmate Priya once caught me in one at a leaving do and said, “you look like you’re about to read the news,” and honestly, fair. That was the wrong dress, not the wrong idea. I’ve since bought so many black evening dresses that my mum asked if I was going through something.

Here’s what I’ve actually learned. The good ones aren’t about the colour doing the work, they’re about the cut doing the work, because black gives you nowhere to hide behind a print.

A proper bias cut or a decent structured bodice looks expensive in a way a busy pattern just doesn’t have to try for. Fabric matters more than anywhere else in your dress collection too. A crepe or a good satin catches light and moves when you walk into a room, whereas a stiff polyester one just sits there looking like a costume. I learned that at a cousin’s engagement party in 2019 when mine crackled every time I sat down, like I was wearing a bin bag with ambitions.

Styling one is the fun bit, because black does the heavy lifting so your accessories don’t have to fight it. Gold jewellery, something with a bit of shine, a coat that actually looks like you meant it rather than the parka you grabbed leaving the house. Bare legs and a strappy heel for anything with dancing involved, tights and a boot if it’s a January thing in a marquee with no heating, which I would know about. A slightly severe hair or a strong lip does more for a black dress than any amount of extra jewellery, because it’s the one place you get to add personality back in.

Occasion wise, this is your black tie wedding dress, your work Christmas do dress, your “I have to give a speech and cannot also be worrying about a wardrobe malfunction” dress. It’s the one you can wear three years running to different weddings and nobody clocks it, because it never announced itself in the first place. That’s not boring. That’s just doing its job properly.

Top Picks

BLACK EVENING DRESSTRAVIS MATHEWEvening Retreat Dress

$129.96 $97.47 TRAVIS MATHEW

BLACK EVENING DRESSHELLOMOLLY (US)Evening Allure Mesh Strapless Maxi Dress Black

$95.95 HELLOMOLLY (US)

BLACK EVENING DRESSGODDIVAGoddiva Full Sleeve Sequin Evening Dress

$135.00 GODDIVA

HUGO BOSSHUGO Maxi dress with rhinestone straps - Black Women's Evening Dresses $299.00 HUGO BOSS

GODDIVAGoddiva One Shoulder Evening Maxi Dress $95.00 GODDIVA

ZAPAKA VINTAGE, INC.Black Halter Evening Dress $119.89 ZAPAKA VINTAGE, INC.

CRONJAGERPuppy Gentleman Bow Tie Evening Dress Pet Supplies $30.00 CRONJAGER

HELLO MOLLY (US)Aurora Evening Satin Maxi Dress Black $99.95 HELLO MOLLY (US)

HUGO BOSSHUGO Maxi dress with rhinestone embellishments - Black Women's Evening Dresses $399.00 HUGO BOSS

CEEHUTEEYCeehuteey Men's 2 Pieces Double Breasted tall handsome suit formal evening dress banquet suit set (Blazer+Pants) - Black / 40R $139.00 CEEHUTEEY

SHOEMALL.COMMasseys Sparkle Evening Dress Black Dresses 28W $79.97 SHOEMALL.COM

THE LUXURY CLOSETWardrobe.NYC Black Crepe Evening Column Dress $895.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

THREDUP (US)CDC Evening Casual Dress: Black Stars Pattern Dresses - Size $18.99 THREDUP (US)

HELLO MOLLY (US)Evening Muse Off Shoulder Mesh Maxi Dress Black $105.95 HELLO MOLLY (US)

HELLO MOLLY (US)Evening Luxe Maxi Dress Black $129.95 HELLO MOLLY (US)

HELLOMOLLY (US)Evening Allure Mesh Strapless Maxi Dress Black $95.95 HELLOMOLLY (US)

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDElegant Lace Bodice Satin A-Line Cut out Corset Gown Sexy High Slit Formal Evening Dress - black $157.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

THE LUXURY CLOSETCH Carolina Herrera Black/White Crepe Ruffled Evening Dress $479.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

THREDUP (US)Papell Boutique Evening Cocktail Dress - High Low: Black Dresses - Used - Size $39.99 THREDUP (US)

THREDUP (US)Papell Boutique Evening Cocktail Dress - Fit & Flare: Black Stars Pattern Dresses - Used - Size $75.99 THREDUP (US)

ZAPAKA VINTAGE, INC.Black Velvet Evening Party Dress $79.99 ZAPAKA VINTAGE, INC.

GODDIVAGoddiva One Shoulder Diamante Chiffon Evening Maxi Dress $135.00 GODDIVA

HELLOMOLLY (US)Sparkle-Filled Evening Strapless Mini Dress Black $109.95 HELLOMOLLY (US)

CERQULARWomens Black Leather Ankle Strap Heels UK 5 Elegant Evening Dress Sandals $32.49 CERQULAR

HELLO MOLLY (US)Evening Icons Satin Maxi Dress Black $99.95 HELLO MOLLY (US)

CERQULARBCBGMAXAZRIA Womens Black Silk Sequined Mini Dress S Evening Party $97.49 CERQULAR

THREDUP (US)ABS Evening by Allen Schwartz Cocktail Dress - A-Line: Black Print Pattern Dresses - Used - Size $61.99 THREDUP (US)

ZAPAKA VINTAGE, INC.Black Strapless Ball Gown Evening Dress $127.89 ZAPAKA VINTAGE, INC.

THREDUP (US)CDC Evening Cocktail Dress: Black Dresses - Used - Size $17.99 THREDUP (US)

HELLO MOLLY (US)Exclusive Evening Halter Pearl Mini Dress Black $119.95 HELLO MOLLY (US)

GODDIVAGoddiva Full Sleeve Sequin Evening Dress $135.00 GODDIVA

HELLOMOLLY (US)Evening Enchantress One Shoulder Maxi Dress Black $99.95 HELLOMOLLY (US)

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDChicSew Modern Satin V-Neck Long Sleeves Mother Of The Groom Overskirt Formal Evening Dress - Black&White $179.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

GODDIVAGoddiva Sequin Mesh One Shoulder Evening Maxi Dress $165.00 GODDIVA

GODDIVAGoddiva Dobby Mesh Feather Sleeve Evening Maxi Dress $135.00 GODDIVA

GODDIVAGoddiva Feather Off The Shoulder Pleated Evening Maxi Dress $145.00 GODDIVA

CERQULARMAJE Womens Black Strapless Silk Dress Mini Evening Cocktail Elegant $81.89 CERQULAR

GODDIVAGoddiva Diamante Heart Trim Evening Maxi Dress $69.00 GODDIVA

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDStunning Sweetheart Ball Gown Prom Dress Beaded Bodice Tiered Tulle Formal Evening Gown - black $229.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

ZEAGOOV-neck High Split Long Evening Dress with Belt - Black / L(8-10) $37.89 ZEAGOO

ZEAGOOSlit Pleated Velvet Slip Evening Dress - Black / M(6) $24.83 ZEAGOO

GODDIVAGoddiva Modesty Sequin Evening Maxi Dress $135.00 GODDIVA

ZEAGOOFlared Sleeve Lace Dress Slim-Fit Mermaid Evening Gown - Black / S(4) $22.86 ZEAGOO

ZEAGOORuffled Square Collar Long Formal Dress Sleeveless Slit Evening Dress - Green / XL(12) $31.88 ZEAGOO

ZEAGOOLong Formal Satin Dress Mock Neck High Neck Evening Dress - Beige / S(4) $35.80 ZEAGOO

ZEAGOOLong Formal Satin Dress Mock Neck High Neck Evening Dress - Rose Red / M(6) $35.80 ZEAGOO

ZEAGOORuffled Square Collar Long Formal Dress Sleeveless Slit Evening Dress - Beige / S(4) $31.88 ZEAGOO

ZEAGOORuffled Square Collar Long Formal Dress Sleeveless Slit Evening Dress - Red / S(4) $31.88 ZEAGOO

W CONCEPT (US)Cape Fitted Maxi Evening Dress [Black] $831.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Cape Flowing Evening Maxi Dress [Pale Pink] $831.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Amor Layered Dress Evening T-shirt Emily Mid-Length Leggings SET [Ivory] $130.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Sequin Floor Length Evening Dress [Black] $166.00 W CONCEPT (US)

−25%

TRAVIS MATHEWEvening Retreat Dress$129.96 $97.47 TRAVIS MATHEW

Search for more black evening dress ideas in the Sale Watcher