What to wear with a black dress

The easiest way to style a black dress is with a cardigan or short jacket, tights and boots, plus an accent colour such as pink, burgundy or cream. Black goes with almost every colour, so a dress can look calm or eye-catching depending on the occasion.

A black dress hangs in almost every wardrobe. Still, the idea is often missing for how to keep it from looking the same every time. Here you will find which jacket goes with it, which shoes and tights shape the look, which colours work well and how to adapt the dress for work, parties and winter.

Which jacket goes with a black dress?

Jackets in almost any shape go with a black dress. The only thing that matters is that the jacket suits the occasion. You can find more ideas in our guide Jacket with a Dress.

Cardigan: It softens the dress and makes it suitable for everyday. Cream, beige and grey look calm, black gives one continuous tone. You will find a selection among the cardigans.
Short jacket: A denim or leather-look jacket gives a simple dress a casual accent.
Blazer: It makes the dress work-ready and adds structure to the look.
Coat or trench coat: Worn open, it does not cover the dress and keeps you warm on cool days.

Which shoes go with a black dress?

The shoes decide how the dress looks. With boots it feels casual, with heels festive and with trainers everyday.

Ankle boots. They are the simplest choice for autumn and winter. Black ankle boots with a black dress and black tights create a calm, continuous line. More on this can be found in our guide Dress with Ankle Boots.

Knee-high boots. With a short or knee-length dress they leave only a small gap and keep your legs warm.

Cowboy boots. With a simple black dress they add a relaxed accent, especially in brown, camel or beige.

Trainers or ballet flats. They work when the day is long and the dress should stay everyday.

You will find the styles among the boots.

Black dress with tights: which ones work?

Black tights almost always go with a black dress. They continue the dark line and let dress and shoes merge into one.

Plain and black is the safe choice for everyday, work and cold days.
Fine looks more festive and suits parties and evenings.
Brown or grey works when shoes, bag or jacket are in the same tone.
Knitted tights are a warm option for winter and add texture to the outfit.

Which colours go with a black dress?

Cream, beige, white, pink, burgundy, red and grey go with a black dress. Black is neutral and lets other colours take the lead.

Cream and beige. A cream cardigan or a beige coat makes the look softer and warmer than black alone.

Pink. A soft pink looks fresh with black, a strong pink sets a clear accent. One piece is often enough, such as a jacket, scarf or bag.

Burgundy. The dark red looks elegant with black and suits autumn and winter. As a cardigan, bag or shoe it adds depth to the outfit.

If you want to stay all in black, play with different textures such as knit, shine and leather. You will find a selection among the black clothing for women.

Black dress for work, parties and winter

Work. A simple black dress with a blazer or cardigan, tights and ankle boots looks tidy and stays uncomplicated. A light jacket brings calm to the look.

Parties. A bit of shine is welcome here: a sequin dress needs hardly anything else, while a simple style gets its festive touch from jewellery, fine tights and heels. You will find more ideas in the guide party outfits for women.

Winter. With thick tights, tall boots, a coat and a scarf, even a thin dress can work in winter. How to build the layers is explained in the guide how to style a dress in winter. If you wear a knitted dress, the article how to style a knitted dress helps.