How Do I Dress Up a Black Dress

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Black dresses are a must-have in your wardrobe—they can move you seamlessly from an office to a party, or a variety of other occasions. If you're on the hunt for some new, stylish ways to jazz up your little black dress (LBD), look no further! Take a peek through these chic suggestions and see if any appeal to you.

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Black, over-the-knee boots add a monochromatic touch to your outfit. These long boots add some height to your outfit, and create a chic, streamlined look when paired with your LBD.
- Make your outfit extra monochromatic with a black handbag and black sweater.

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Gladiator-style sandals look great with an LBD. Grab a pair of black sandals, which complement your dress nicely while still showing off your legs. Then, add a burst of color to your look with a coat of fresh toenail polish.

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Bold, bright shoes act as the focal point of your outfit. Give your outfit a little extra height with a pair of heels for an especially dynamic look.^[1]
- For instance, red shoes look great with an all-black outfit.

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Add a fun twist to your black dress with chunky, eye-catching jewelry. Play around with choker necklaces, wide bangles, and other daring pieces of jewelry. Bold accessories help spruce up your dress in a way that's both fresh and modern.^[2]

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Style your pearls with white satin gloves and round-toed pumps. This creates a really adorable look, à la romantic Audrey Hepburn. Try to stay away from pointed pumps—these are too fierce for such a soft and retro look.^[3]
- This works great with a shift-style dress.

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Contrast your dark outfit with a bright accessory. To really make a statement, pick out a larger clutch to complement your dress.^[4]

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Handbags are a stylish, on-the-go accessory that can keep up with your LBD. Choose a lighter handbag, which will look really striking against your dress. If you'd like, pick out a bag with a subtle, chic pattern that meshes nicely with your dress.^[5]
- For instance, a white handbag with a leafy vine design could be a tasteful complement to your LBD.

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A variety of colors work well with an LBD. Your dark dress acts as a blank canvas, with scarves adding a touch of brightness and personality to your look. Play around with bold, solid colors, or mix things up with patterns for an extra dynamic look.^[6]
- Polka dots, stripes, floral designs, and paisley all look great with a little black dress.

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Your LBD probably can't brave chilly weather on its own. That's where a faux fur coat comes in! This thick garment adds a cozy touch to your outfit without compromising style.^[7]

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Let your LBD be a canvas for a bolder, brighter color scheme or pattern. Leopard print offers a striking, stylish complement to your dress, while bold floral patterns add a splash of color to your look. Play around with different patterns and designs until you find a coat that fits your personal aesthetic.
- For instance, a blue, orange, red, and yellow patterned coat offers a bold, eye-catching edge to your LBD.

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Pantyhose help even out your skin tone and provide a great finishing touch. Sheer black or gray-tinted pantyhose are a great option if you're dressing in evening wear, especially if it's a little chilly outside. Black tights create a seamless, sleek look that blends well with the rest of your outfit.^[8]
- Your legs tend to look longer when your shoes and tights color match.^[9]

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Give your outfit an extra dimension with polka-dot tights. These tights add some extra volume to a stylish and sleek LBD.^[10]

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Belts can provide an emphatic, contrasting feature to your dress. Select an accessory the meshes well with your dress—it might be a matching color, or have a complementary pattern or texture.^[11]
- For instance, you might add a dash of brightness with a gold belt.

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A well-placed hat is a simple but elegant way to enhance your outfit. ^[12] You might also play around with astutely-placed hair bows, floral accessories, bejeweled hairpieces, or simple ribbons. All of these accents go a long way in making a statement with your black dress!^[13]

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What can I stay comfortable in a little black dress during the winter?

Kalee Hewlett is a Celebrity Stylist & Confidence Coach with almost two decades of experience helping clients build confidence and 'dress for success.' She works with her clients to transform their sense of self 'from the inside out' by merging her expertise in image consulting with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Kalee's work is rooted in science, style, and the understanding that 'identity is destiny'. She uses her own methodology and Style To Success Strategy to create positive identity shifts. Kalee is a fashion TV host and appears regularly on QVC UK sharing her fashion expertise. She also was appointed as the head judge and host of Fashion One Network's 6-part TV show 'Design Genius.'

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How do I look sleek in a black dress?

Kalee Hewlett is a Celebrity Stylist & Confidence Coach with almost two decades of experience helping clients build confidence and 'dress for success.' She works with her clients to transform their sense of self 'from the inside out' by merging her expertise in image consulting with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Kalee's work is rooted in science, style, and the understanding that 'identity is destiny'. She uses her own methodology and Style To Success Strategy to create positive identity shifts. Kalee is a fashion TV host and appears regularly on QVC UK sharing her fashion expertise. She also was appointed as the head judge and host of Fashion One Network's 6-part TV show 'Design Genius.'

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For a sleek look, choose a necklace that fits the neckline of your dress, or pin a brooch in a cute spot on your garment. You can also change things up with a pair of daring earrings—the possible combos are endless!
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What kind of jewelry should I wear if I've got an awesome dress?

Kalee Hewlett is a Celebrity Stylist & Confidence Coach with almost two decades of experience helping clients build confidence and 'dress for success.' She works with her clients to transform their sense of self 'from the inside out' by merging her expertise in image consulting with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Kalee's work is rooted in science, style, and the understanding that 'identity is destiny'. She uses her own methodology and Style To Success Strategy to create positive identity shifts. Kalee is a fashion TV host and appears regularly on QVC UK sharing her fashion expertise. She also was appointed as the head judge and host of Fashion One Network's 6-part TV show 'Design Genius.'

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What can I accessorize with if I'm on the older side?

Kalee Hewlett is a Celebrity Stylist & Confidence Coach with almost two decades of experience helping clients build confidence and 'dress for success.' She works with her clients to transform their sense of self 'from the inside out' by merging her expertise in image consulting with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Kalee's work is rooted in science, style, and the understanding that 'identity is destiny'. She uses her own methodology and Style To Success Strategy to create positive identity shifts. Kalee is a fashion TV host and appears regularly on QVC UK sharing her fashion expertise. She also was appointed as the head judge and host of Fashion One Network's 6-part TV show 'Design Genius.'

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What color goes well with a black dress?

Kalee Hewlett is a Celebrity Stylist & Confidence Coach with almost two decades of experience helping clients build confidence and 'dress for success.' She works with her clients to transform their sense of self 'from the inside out' by merging her expertise in image consulting with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Kalee's work is rooted in science, style, and the understanding that 'identity is destiny'. She uses her own methodology and Style To Success Strategy to create positive identity shifts. Kalee is a fashion TV host and appears regularly on QVC UK sharing her fashion expertise. She also was appointed as the head judge and host of Fashion One Network's 6-part TV show 'Design Genius.'

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It depends a little bit on your skin tone and hair color. I'm a big fan of matching a black dress with black shoes and then adding some silver or gold jewelry to make it pop. A good black dress can stand on its own.
Question

Is it okay to wear black tights and high heels with a black dress?

Absolutely! A monochromatic look is very chic. I would add a colorful/shiny piece somewhere to the outfit (a bright red lip, sparkly purse, bigger earrings, etc.) to give the outfit a pop of color/shine.
Question

Would it be okay to wear white heels with my black dress?

Yes, but it may create some contrast. To balance that contrast out, consider adding a white accessory, such as a: belt, clutch/bag/purse, cunky bracelet, or statement necklace.
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Is it acceptable to wear gold pumps with a black dress?

It's fine as long as you balance out the look with gold accessories and stay away from any other colors. Use a tasteful gold eye shadow or lipstick if you aren't inclined to stick with neutral makeup.
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Should I wear gold or silver jewelry with an all-black dress?

Either! Gold and silver both look great with a little black dress, so you should wear whichever one goes best with your skin tone.
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Is it good to wear silver heels with a black fitted dress?

Yes, that should be good, as long as they don't clash with something else you're wearing (e.g., gold jewelry).