Browse links
US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data.
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Because black is an all-year-round, 365 aesthetic.
I know the customer photo isn't for a black dress, but just wanted you to have a reference of the fit on an actual person!
Promising review: "Cute and versatile dress. It has quite a bit of stretch. It lays nicely and has enough weight to have a pretty swish to the skirt portion when walking." —Valerie F.
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in sizes XS–XXL and 45 other colors/patterns).
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $79 (available in sizes XS–L and a floral white pattern as well).
Promising review: "This dress is absolutely perfect! I was iffy ordering a dress off of Amazon but I needed one for an elegant night on a cruise ship. I wear medium almost everything and this dress was true to size. It fit perfectly everywhere. I haven't dressed up in a long time and this dress made me feel like a million bucks! I wore it two different nights and it never wrinkled. It was extremely comfortable." —Amanda
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 13 other colors).
Promising review: "I wore this to a wedding and the compliments on the dress kept coming the whole evening! Pretty form-fitting, but the ribbed fabric is pretty forgiving and super comfortable. Love that you can tighten or loosen the rope in back to your own comfort level. Love! This! Dress!" —kwaller
Get it from Free People for $78 (available in sizes XS–XL and terracotta as well).
Get it from Walmart for $34.50 (available in sizes XS–XXXL).
Note: Reviewers say that wearing a regular bra with this dress won't really work, but adhesive bras and double-sided fashion tape might help. Otherwise, just tying the bow tightly and going bra-less seems to work for some people — the material is thick enough so that it's not see-through.
Promising review: "Super cute and great style for the price. May take a couple times to tie a pretty bow and get ‘everything’ where it needs to be, but the tie is generous for larger busts and the smocked back allows for less or more stretch depending on bust size, so that’s a plus! Really cute and comfortable to wear. You could easily pair with a lace sports bra for more modesty or a bandeau style top even." —J. Rice
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and 23 other colors/patterns).
Promising review: "I NEVER write reviews, but this dress is worth the review! The fit is so flattering! I’m a month post-postpartum and it doesn’t even look that way when I’m in this dress. The way the dress is made is so perfect and the material is better than what I was expecting. It has the fitted look that I wanted! It’s definitely worth every penny!" —Patty Cunningham
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and six other colors).
Promising review: "This is now my favorite find of the season. The cut is flattering, the fabric is lightweight and SOFT and not clingy, the neckline is not too high or low, and the tie in the back adds a little feminine touch. Paired with a necklace and cute sandals, it's adorable." —beckseasalt
Get it from Lane Bryant for $59.95 (available in sizes 14/16–26/28).
Promising review: "This is my new favorite work dress! Even though I bought it in regular, it’s stretchy enough to cover my butt when I bend over! (I normally only buy dresses in tall sizes.) Black is perfect to dress up or down. Looks great with a boyfriend cardigan!" —Molly
Get it from Abercrombie for $36 (originally $48; available in sizes XXS–XL in petite, regular, and tall, and two other colors).
Again, I know the second photo isn't a black dress, but it helps to see a real-life customer wearing it! And she even accented it with a belt — cuuute!
Promising review: "This dress is perfect. It's so soft that after a night out, I just kept it on as pajamas. It's great by itself or with a belt and cardigan, but the armholes are big and expose the bra, so be aware of that. It's great to wear on a nice summer day out, a night out, or at work. I'm 5'3" and it comes a few inches above the knee. The pockets are well-hidden and very useful." —Jessica
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 19 other colors).
Promising review: "This was my first purchase from Everlane after almost a year of dreaming about buying their products, so my expectations were quite high. I'm happy to say that this dress not only met them, but exceeded them! The material feels so expensive and flowy, and I really feel comfortable and chic in it. Definitely recommend it as a true summer staple!" —Renn Kar
Get it from Everlane for $100 (available in sizes 00–16 and three other colors).
Heads up: reviewers say it's a little see-through, so go with black undergarments, boy shorts, Spanx, a slip, or something similar if you're worried about that. Otherwise, it could be a very cute beach coverup!
Promising review: "I loved this way more than I thought I would. The fabric is almost sweater like and ribbed, but quite thin. Certainly cool enough for summer. It is stretchy and hugs curves. The length is nice too. I found boyshorts work best underneath." —samanthann92
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in sizes XS–XXL and 12 other colors).
Promising review: "This dress is absolutely flattering on any body type! I’m super pregnant right now and nothing feels or looks good on me but this dress has me feeling beautiful! It’s so comfy and cute, you’ll never want to stop wearing it." —Val1234
Get it from Aerie for $34.96 (originally $49.95; available in sizes XXS–XXL and seven other colors).
Promising review: "When I saw the stock photo of this dress on the model, I ordered it and said, "Well, we'll see! Haha!" But the minute I tried it on, I was so happy with it! I needed something kinda dressy but kinda casual/comfortable for an anniversary trip, and this was perfect. It's a stretchy material, so it hugged all the right places. I have a very small bust, so with the fabric flap, I was able to go braless which was a huge plus. I received so many compliments on it. Great buy for the price." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 10 other colors).
Promising review: "The top is a little sheer but the overall look of this dress is SO fantastic and so soft and comfy and flattering at the same time that I can live with it. Trust me. You want to have this dress!" —TraciJD
Get it from Nordstrom for $98 (available in sizes XS–XL and two other colors).
Promising review: "Super cute and quality material! The color is exactly as pictured. I love the bell sleeves and length of dress is good. The V-neck is a little higher than what it appears to be on the model, but I was happy with that. The dress is nice and flowy but also super cute if you add a belt to accentuate your waist. I’ve worn it both ways! It was true to size; just follow your measurements on the size chart." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in sizes XS–XL and 15 other colors).
Get it from Asos for $45 (available in sizes 12–26).
Get it from ModCloth for $62.97 (originally $155; available in sizes 4–12).
Promising review: "For the price, you really can’t ask for better. I bought this dress to get some portraits done professionally, and it photographed BEAUTIFULLY. I typically wear a small, but since the fabric is stretchy, I saw that some reviews recommended sizing down. It feels very nice and soft, the skirt is very twirly and flares out beautifully, and the sleeves aren’t too tight or too large. I would absolutely order more dresses from this brand — this feels and looks SO much more expensive than it is! No fraying seams or anything, just absolutely perfect." —Mallory B.
Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in sizes XS–XL and six other colors).
Promising review: "I bought this as a special birthday present for myself and I could not be happier! I am very picky with dresses since the way the waist hits or the neckline can really make me look frumpy, but this dress is so flattering! The trapeze style gradually flares out, skimming over my curves but not clinging to them. The detail is adorable and can be dressed up or down. Love the material and the fact it is lined to make sure it's not see-through. If you are on the fence, go for it!" —AROSE87
Get it from Torrid for $42.18 (available in sizes 00–6).
Get it from Nordstrom for $89 (available in petite sizes XXS–XL and regular sizes XS–XXL, as well as yellow).
Promising review: "Awesome dress! I wear this at work with my brown equestrian flat boots or ballerina flats, but it's also perfect for a night out with high heels! It can also be worn easily open (as a long vest); personally I love it with leather pants and a blouse. No matter how I wear it, everyone points out how sexy it is, regardless of how many (...so many!) times I've worn it! I only replaced the golden buttons with black ones but that was particular to my own taste; the ones it comes with were perfectly fine. Such a good purchase." —Anna Dalivigka
Get it from Revolve for $70 (available in sizes XXS–L).
Promising review: "Super cute summer dress! The fabric is very different than your regular plain fabric — it has a texture to it, which makes it more special. Also the great thing about the off-the-shoulder part of this dress is that it doesn't ride all the way up like many off-shoulder tops and dresses do — it rides up just a little, but it won’t slide up all the way up. The dress is designed to be a little loose, but it will look good with a matching belt too if you want a different look. I’m actually very impressed with the quality. It’s not see-through." —coki
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in sizes S–XL and three other colors).
Promising review: "I'm 4'9" and this is the PERFECT maxi dress on me. I've never been able to get in on the trend until now. The dress itself is very comfortable and chic. (Read: you look put together while feeling like you have a sweatshirt on.) The slit is a little bit on the high side for an everyday dress (especially when sitting, you must be careful), but you should still order it." —Megan Hillman
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and three other colors).
Promising review: "I wore this to a wedding and everyone loved it! I wore it with silver sparkly heels and a silver clutch. I felt very Cinderella. The dress is so flattering for someone with a large bust! I suggest it to anyone looking for a special event dress." —Jo
Get it from Amazon for $42.01+ (available in sizes XS–XL and three other colors).
The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.