5 Creative Ways to Accessorize a Black Dress

No matter your style, we can all agree that the color black will forever be relevant. While oftentimes, black outfits have a reputation of being boring, we highly disagree. An all black look is classic and simple and extremely versatile. Wearing an all black outfit doesn’t mean you’ve lost your sense of personal style. When you know how to accessorize a black dress, you’ll look and feel comfortable and confident. Whether your style skews casual, trend-forward, or somewhere in between, we’re here to show you 5 ways to accessorize a black dress.

Here at Connected Apparel, we want to show you how an all black outfit can be just what you need for most occasions. The trick is how to accessorize a black dress. Every time you wear it, if you accessorize it differently, you’ll feel like you’re wearing something brand new!

As you read this article you’ll learn different ways to accessorize a black dress with:

Minimalist Jewelry
Unique, personal items
Trendy Statement Jewelry
Surprising Textures
Shoes as the key feature

And as a bonus, we’ve put together a list of 10 accessories to always have on-hand when you need to dress up a black dress or any other pieces in your closet.

1. GO ROMANTIC WITH MINIMALIST JEWELRY

Start by choosing an all black style that has romantic details. Once your all black look is put together, a great lesson in how to dress up a black dress is to pick jewelry that is dainty yet shines bright. One idea would be to wear a trio of gold or silver pendant necklaces, a mixed collection of minimalist rings and layered bracelets. These are just a few ideas that would add the cherry on top to a romantic all black look. Shop our date night styles and get ready for that romantic night out you may have coming up.

2. GO PERSONAL WITH UNIQUE JEWELRY THAT LEVELS UP THE LOOK

Adding your own flare and excitement to an all black outfit is a great option when learning how to dress up a black dress. Style should be fun and personal, so we give you permission to raid your jewelry boxes and bring out pieces you haven’t worn in years, or maybe even decades. Whether it’s a beautiful brooch passed down through generations, or a chunky necklace you got as a gift, deciding how to accessorize a black dress can be a personal journey. Think of your all black outfit as a blank canvas!

3. IF YOUR STYLE SKEWS TRENDY, GO WITH STATEMENT JEWELRY!

If you’re figuring out how to style a black dress that skews trendy, just pick trendy jewelry! It’s as simple as that. Dresses with feminine details like flounce sleeves, capelets or sweetheart necklines pair well with statement jewelry, especially jewelry with colored stones. And when figuring out what shoes to wear with a black dress, we suggest going simple like a block heel. That way, you’re not going overboard on the trend-meter.

4. GO FOR TEXTURES AS A SURPRISE STYLE SECRET

To add depth and interest to your black dress, try mixing different textures in the same color palette. For example, you could pair a black sheath dress with a sleek camel belt or ob-sash, an embossed leather purse, black tights or stockings, and a pair of soft light brown suede boots. If you can find items with fun details like studs or bold patterns (think snakeskins and animal prints), they can really elevate the look and add a little extra flair!

5. GO TO YOUR SHOES FIRST

Some days, we don’t have a lot of time to get ready, but we need to look chic and put together. That’s when you call in your favorite black dress and shoes. When picking what shoes to wear with your black dress, choose ones with a pop of color or chic pattern. You can then build the rest of your outfit around your shoe choice. For example, if your favorite shoes are a kitten heel, you can match your lip to your shoes and pair the outfit with a black blazer and simple jewelry to keep the outfit looking professional. If you chose a bootie, opt for something more sporty on top like a leather jacket or a dark denim jacket.

10 ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR BLACK DRESS

After considering our top 5 ways to accessorize a black dress, here is a list of go-to accessories to have in your closet. Our suggestion would be to first decide what your favorite color palette is and work within those parameters so that you can mix and match your jewelry, jackets and shoes so that they can be worn with many different outfits.

Gold or Silver hoop earrings
Dainty gold or silver necklace stack
Gold or Silver bangles - some plain, some with colored stones
Rings that are gold or silver and some that also have a colored stone
Colorful or printed belt (we prefer animal print) that fits around your waist and also complements your favorite color palette
Leather Jacket
Denim Jacket
Blazer
Simple, comfortable black block heel
Booties that complement your favorite color palette

HOW TO MATCH YOUR HAIRSTYLE AND MAKEUP CHOICES

Being able to effectively match your hairstyle and your makeup choices to your black dress and accessories can take your look from great to masterpiece. You’re able to create a look that captures everyone's attention from head-to-toe. Additionally, this shows you much you love attention to detail and self expression.

Hairstyles

Effortless Waves - This hairstyle gives the impression of effortless glamor and romance. In the same vein, when you dress up a black dress you can go with accessories that give off the same idea such as minimalist jewelry or statement jewelry that adds a pop of color.
Elegant Updos - When you’re attending a more formal event, consider an elegant updo that will show off your necklace and earrings. A sleek bun or a sophisticated chignon beautifully complements a sophisticated black dress.
Classic Ponytail - A sleek or high ponytail adds an unexpected twist to your black dress as it makes it feel more casual. When looking to mix different textures, this is a great hairstyle options it makes the focus of your ensemble the unique accessory pairings.

Makeup

Fresh and Natural - this makeup look is great year round and complements how you accessorize a black dress beautifully. This makeup approach lets you accessorize your black dress however you like while highlighting your natural beauty.
Bold Lips to Match - We love matching our lip color to our colorful accessories. This adds just that extra feminine twist to how you accessorize a black dress.
Smokey Eyes - If you’re going for a more dramatic eye, make sure to balance your makeup with a light or nude lip. This will ensure that your black dress and accessories are still able to shine while still being able to show off your sultry eye makeup.

HOW TO WEAR A BLACK DRESS THROUGH THE SEASONS

Winter

When Winter hits, the only exception to wearing a sleeveless black dress is if you have an incredible, stylish coat that is also warm! We love the idea of using different textures in the winter to show off your personal style. You likely won’t be taking off all your layers when out and about so let your black dress act as a blank canvas in the Winter and build upon it.

Spring

When the temperatures hit 70-80 degrees, it’s time to bring our your favorite fit and flare and kaftan black dress. This will allow you to accessorize any way you want (just refer to our suggestions above)! The weather isn’t too cold and not too warm so you can use light layers and any jewelry and shoe combination your heart desires when figuring out how to accessorize a black dress in Spring.

Summer

Opt for black dresses that are lightweight and breathable if you can. The best thing when accessorizing a black dress in Spring is to keep your accessories minimal. Go for a cute hoop earring or throw on a pair of heeled sandals. But it’s best to stay away from chunky necklaces because it will cause your neck to get sweaty.

Fall

When temperatures begin to drop, long sleeves are your best friend. Whether you have a long-sleeved black dress or a favorite sweater to pair with your black dress, you’ll wear this over and over again. If your dress has interesting details like a faux warp at the waist (see our Lisa dress for example), you can stay minimal with accessories and let the dress speak for itself. And because it has sleeves, you may not even need a jacket on some occasions in Fall.

CONNECTED APPAREL HAS YOUR BACK!

When figuring out how to accessorize a black dress, keep one thing in mind: your outfit is a blank canvas. While it may take some playing around in your wardrobe to put together the perfect look, we hope you find our 5 ways to accessorize a black dress helpful.

We also have a lot of black dresses and jumpsuits available for you to choose from. Now you can have a go-to piece that you can feel comfortable and confident in. Not to mention, you will know how to accessorize a black dress. And if you need help finding a silhouette that best suits you, check out our style guide on determining and dressing for your body shape.

Shop Colors We Love: Black