How to Dress Up That Little Black Dress

Wear over-the-knee boots for a sophisticated look.

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.

Stay cool in a pair of statement sandals.

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.

Make a statement with brightly-colored shoes.

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. For instance, red shoes look great with an all-black outfit. Reader Poll: we asked 726 wikiHow readers, and 73% agreed that the best shoes to wear with dresses are heels. So according to our readers, they're the perfect choice for your LBD! [Take Poll]

Stand out with bold jewelry.

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.

Create an elegant look with pearls.

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. This works great with a shift-style dress.

Go bold with a glittery clutch.

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

Contrast your LBD with a light-colored handbag.

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. For instance, a white handbag with a leafy vine design could be a tasteful complement to your LBD.

Add a splash of color with a decorative scarf.

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. Polka dots, stripes, floral designs, and paisley all look great with a little black dress.

Slip into a faux fur coat for a cozy look.

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.

Layer a printed coat over top for a bold outfit.

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.

Create a chic, simple look with black pantyhose.

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. Your legs tend to look longer when your shoes and tights color match.

Add some volume to your outfit with textured tights.

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

Accent your dress with a belt.

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. For instance, you might add a dash of brightness with a gold belt.

Pick out a hat or hair accessory for a formal touch.

A well-placed hat is a simple but elegant way to enhance your outfit. 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!