How to Style a Little Black Dress for Different Occasions

As we’re all thinking about transforming our wardrobes to include more timeless pieces, one of the most common apparel is the little black dress. I am sure almost all of us have at least one in our closet that’s why I put together this visual guide on how to style a little black dress for different occasions.

It doesn’t matter the occasion, the little black dress can work on any occasion and any season if it is paired right. I am choosing a ruched dress as it is more flattering and suitable for many body types. Also, a long sleeve can be worn in summer and also in winter.

I will show you how to transform this timeless piece into looks that can’t go wrong for whatever you’ve got planned. Now let’s dive in!

How to style a little black dress for casual occasions

Casual circumstances are the perfect moments to wear an LBD. It’s short, it’s bold and everybody likes it. Here are a few of such occasions:

Morning Coffee Run

When I go out in the morning, I prefer to wear more comfortable shoes, usually sneakers. This gives the LBD a more casual look and makes it more of a day outfit than a night one. If it is a bit colder, I usually pair it with a denim jacket.

Day Out with Friends

Depending on the place we’re going, we can wear the comfy outfit above or we can pair the dress with some ballerinas to give it a more elegant look. Also, we can replace the denim jacket with a buttoned sweater for a more elevated look.

Styling a Little Black Dress for Smart Casual Events

These are the kind of events where we want to wear a LBD but we don’t want to be very elegant. We can achieve this look by pairing it with ballerinas and a blazer. Accessories can also play an important role here. For example, a hair bow will make you shine and stand out.

How to style a little black dress for formal events

Date Night

Thinking that we’ll go to an elegant restaurant for a date night, we can certainly wear out LBD. This will go perfectly with a pair of heels, an oversized blazer, and a small city bag.

Styling a Little Black Dress for A Night Out

A night out clubbing with friends screams little black dress. Definitely, we have to pair this with high heels, a clutch, and bold accessories. If it is wintertime, we can add a nice long fur coat as an extra protective layer.

Evening Gala

Not very different from the outfit above but the LBD should be paired here with a black cape blazer and a pair of sparkling high heels for a more elegant appearance.

How to style a little black dress for different seasons

Summer

Very easy to style in the summer season, the LBD goes perfectly with a pair of sandals and a summer bag.

Autumn

This is the season of layers when we can mix and match pieces from different seasons. Here the LBD can go perfectly with a pair of cowboy boots and a denim jacket.

Winter

It’s winter which means tights are in. Whether we pair our little black dress with black or nude tights, the boots are non-negotiable. On top, we can get a buttoned sweater if necessary and also a nice coat.

Spring LBD Outfit Styling Ideas

This is the season when it’s perfectly fine to play along with some colors. We can style the dress with vividly colored shoes and a bag, keeping the blazer on top simple and letting the accessories be the stars of the show.

Key Takeaways

Seeing the many ways we can style the little black dress, we can say it is a fashion statement. Keep it casual or go all out for a glamorous event, it has the ability to adapt to any situation. Remember that matching your accessories with your LBD should always be about expressing better your personality. Experiment with textures and layers to create a look that makes you feel amazing!

For sure the LBD is a key part of a capsule wardrobe. For tips and tricks on how to create and integrate your little black dress into a timeless wardrobe, you can read our article “6 Easy Steps to Build a Versatile Capsule Wardrobe for All Seasons“.