31 Black Dresses That Are Actually Wedding Appropriate
Well, it's July, which means I'll have at least one friend in Italy for a wedding for the foreseeable future—all requiring outfit recommendations for what are promising to be both extremely chic and extremely sweaty events. The dress codes range from cocktail to black tie to garden party, with weather forecasts landing anywhere from uncomfortably hot to full-blown heat wave.
Between this sticky humidity and the fact that we love things we can wear on repeat, I'm here to remind everyone that you absolutely have permission to wear black to weddings. So long as you're staying respectful of dress codes, cultural traditions, and requests from the couple, black is fantastic for weddings, and if you don't enjoy laughing at your fashion time capsules, it's excellent to wear in photos that will undoubtedly reemerge on whatever social media looks like in the decades to come. Since we're in the thick of the season, what better time for a roundup of black dresses that are perfectly appropriate for wedding guests? (I also strongly support non-dress looks for weddings, but we'll save that for a future story.)
A dress that will save you from even the most ambiguous dress code.
I love the top version of this ruched SIR dress, which is perfect for a coastal wedding.
A silhouette for anyone who just can't with this heat.
Reformation x Laura Harrier should tell us everything we need to know.
Ideal for a less formal wedding and then for so many future occasions.
A longtime Australian go-to brand for occasion dresses you'll wear more than once.
Natalie Cantell is a New York-based creative consultant, stylist, and contributing fashion editor. Previously the executive director of Who What Wear and Marie Claire’s brand studio, she now freelances globally on photo shoots, stories, and special projects across the fashion, luxury, beauty, home, and travel categories. Originally from New Zealand, she moved to New York from Sydney (her second home) in 2016. She lives in Williamsburg with her husband, Jake, and their weirdly human dog, Ruby.
-
Kacey Musgraves Just Wore This $185 Dress Onstage With Sabrina Carpenter
It's still in stock.
By Drew Elovitz
-
Bring On the Compliments—These 32 Mango Dresses Are on Major Sale and Ready to Turn Heads
Under $50 and dangerously close to selling out.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
I Ordered the $145 '90s Minidress That's Viral on TikTok, and Now I'm Obsessed
You'll understand once you buy one.
By Eliza Huber
-
From Dôen to Zara—40 Casual Black Dresses You Won't Regret Buying
There's something for every budget.
By Judith Jones
-
I Split My Time Between NYC and Cape Cod—35 Picks That Scream "City Meets Coastal Chic"
Good luck not wanting every last piece.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
Whoa, This Abercrombie Sale Is Full of Incredibly Chic Finds—25 Standouts That Have My Attention
Everything from cool jeans to sleek dresses.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
Eva Mendes Wore the Anti-Trend Dress Style That Looks Expensive Every Time—Guaranteed
I'd pick it over an LBD any day.
By Eliza Huber
-
I Was a VIP Nordstrom Stylist—These Are the Best Shoes to Wear With Jeans and Dresses
Chic 'fits.
By Bobby Schuessler