How to Dress Down a Black Dress to Make It More Wearable!
I have a black dress (or nine?!) that doesn’t get enough wear simply because black seems to be more dressy in my mind. But practically, I know it can be worn more ways than that. So I decided to explore how to dress down a black dress. In this post, I’m sharing with you 30 ways to wear it for casual days and evenings throughout the year!
How to Dress Down a Black Dress
A black dress is basic and functional. Age doesn’t matter because a black dress fits all ages, sizes, seasons and occasions.
It can be layered or bundled for warmth in fall and winter. In spring and summer, casual accessories are the key to a laid-back look. The following ideas start with cold-weather outfits and gradually transition to warm-weather outfits towards the end.
Outfit Ideas for Fall & Winter
- Add a black faux leather jacket over a long, black dress. Add pumps or tall boots.
- A black cardigan with leather details (or a black leather jacket) over a black slip dress. Add black heels + black jewelry.
- Add a black moto jacket over a little black dress (LBD.) Add black opaque tights + black booties.
- An LBD + textured tights and tall black boots. Add a long, gold pendant. You might want to add a cover-up in addition to your coat.
- Add a cap, boots and mismatched earrings to a black sweater dress. Or, warm up with a beanie.
- Add a blazer over your dress. You might like to belt the jacket. Wear tall boots and maybe a scarf.
- A wrap sweater over a black dress.
- You can even dress down a black cocktail dress by sliding a black turtleneck underneath. Then belt it in black and add black boots.
- For a family gathering: Dress it down by belting a cardigan over it and adding knee-high boots or sneakers.
Outfit Ideas: How to Transition a Black Dress to Fall
- Top your dress with a denim jacket.
- A black sundress or tank dress + a jean jacket. Add black evening shoes + a bracelet + a ring. Cuff the jacket once, neatly.
- A black maxi-dress + a jean jacket. Add chain bracelets + hoop earrings + black evening shoes + a gold clutch.
- Any other black dress + a jean jacket. Roll up the sleeves and add a rhinestone cuff.
- Layer a tank or tee underneath the dress.
- Layer with a sweatshirt, sweater, button-up shirt, t-shirt and/or a casual jacket any time of year. In cold weather, add tights & closed footwear + maybe a scarf, warm hat and fingerless gloves.
- Wear a blouse or shirt over your dress open as a jacket, or closed and belt it.
- Wear a loose, black dress over a long-sleeve t-shirt. Add a scarf or shawl around neck with ends crossed in front. Layer big necklaces/beads over the scarf/shawl. Add big, ornate earrings + a wideband (wide cloth headband.) You might like to put your hair up.
- Cinch in a loose black dress with a narrow belt. Add tights & booties + a big, colorful bracelet + cream-color or small crystal earrings.
- Top a short black dress with a shawl in your favorite color. Wear accessories that match the shawl and a scarf around your head if you like. Add black tights and flat black ankle boots.
Dress Down a Black Dress With Casual Footwear
The easiest way to dress down a black dress: add casual footwear. Try chunky flat sandals, espadrilles, flip flops, sneakers, combat boots, Western boots, etc.
- Wear chunky flat sandals with your dress. Keep it simple with no jewelry and your hair down. If cool, add tights.
- Accessorize with tights + flats or kitten heels + a cuff bracelet.
- Add to a maxi-length dress: a duster + a statement ethnic necklace + combat boots.
- Along with Western boots, dress down your dress with turquoise and coral jewelry.
- Or, wear something like combat boots or biker boots.
- Wear riding boots with your dress. Add an infinity scarf, a wide belt and a wristband.
Spring & Summer
- If you have a black shirtdress, wear it over your bikini or swimsuit. Add flip flops and a straw bag. Accessorize with simple gold jewelry.
- For Summer, accessorize with gold jewelry and/or light wooden beads + a straw bag + tan slip-on mules, preferably crocheted or perforated.
- Add a kimono or duster over it.
- During warm weather, add flat sandals, a straw hat, a cord necklace and/or bracelet, beads and turquoise jewelry.
- Accessorize with hoop earrings, a long strand of metal & beads, a couple of matching bangles, flat tan sandals and a straw hat.
- By simply adding beads and summer sandals, your dress can go out on a casual day.
- Stroll through your neighborhood or local downtown area, morning or evening, in a black t-shirt dress and walking shoes.
Ways to Wear It Throughout the Year for Every Day
I hope that you will try these outfit ideas and see how versatile a black dress is. It’s wearable way beyond evenings and special events. Look at it as a neutral basic to which you can add your favorite personal touches. Then you can take it anywhere!
Let’s Connect
Did you get inspired to wear your black dresses more often and in different ways? I’d love to hear how this helps you. Please leave a reply in the comments below!
Like this post? You might like to find more inspiration from:
- “How to Dress Up Your Little Black Dress”
- “Over 50 Black Outfits to Wear Spring & Summer: For the Goth & New Yorker in You!”
- “How to Look Good in Black When It’s Not Your Color”
- “How to Make All Black or All White Look Special”
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Angie
I have a couple of black dresses that I really like. One of them I keep forgetting to wear. I need to dig it out and make sure it’s gets worn this summer. Thanks for all the tips!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
I’m really glad to know that this was helpful and maybe even inspiring to you! Thanks for leaving your feedback. <3
Black dresses are the most versatile piece of clothing. These are fab ideas of how to get the most out of them!
It’s becoming more and more clear to me that we can wear just about anything we want every day because there are always ways to dress down!
I love this article! These are such chic ways to make a black dress into a more casual look! I really love the look that Michelle Pfeiffer is wearing– that leather jacket is fantastic with the black dress!
Thanks! I saw a lot of photos of celebrities wearing a black maxi dress in a casual way as they went about their day.