The little black dress is a wardrobe staple for any woman. As a plus-size lady, you might rely on the slimming, obscuring power of black more than the average woman, but that’s okay! You just need to punch up your wardrobe with some stylizing accessories. What do I recommend?
Here are 10 options for stylizing your favorite LBD:
· Blazer
· Sexy knee-highs
· Denim jacket
· Leather jacket
· Statement necklace
· Chunky cardigan and leggings
· Shirt tied around the waist and sneakers
· Scarf
· Belt
· With a shirt on top
Whether you have primarily black dresses in your wardrobe or you have one LBD you want to wear in different ways, the information in this article is going to be hugely helpful. Sometimes, rather than buy new clothes, you can just find ways to wear the same clothes in new ways!
1. Look Professional in a Blazer
There’s something about a style that mixes business with pleasure that’s so ultra-versatile.
No one knows for sure what your destination is. Big work meeting? Maybe. Sunday brunch with the girls or that someone special in your life? Perhaps!
With a crisp blazer on top of your favorite black dress, you’ll look clean, put-together, and ready to take on anything the world has got to throw at you.
The fun thing is that, since your dress is black, you can get away with nearly any blazer color in your wardrobe. Note how I say “nearly” though.
You don’t want to wear a dark blazer in navy or dark brown, as then the blazer will blend into the dress, making it pointless to have worn it in the first place.
This is the time to go for something bright and bold such as Day-Glo lime green, electric pink, bright royal purple, or even white.
The best part about pairing a blazer with a black dress is that you can hide trouble areas like large arms, a shapely tummy, or wide hips with the blazer. It obscures many sins!
2. Pair Your Dress with Sexy Knee-High Boots
When styling the same look in different ways, your choice of footwear can absolutely make a difference in how the outfit is perceived.
Most ladies go for pumps when wearing an LBD, because those shoes seem like the natural accompaniment, right?
Thus, when you go against the grain by wearing a pair of boots, and knee-high boots at that, you’re certainly going to turn some heads when you walk down the street.
A pair of black boots with a black dress is a timeless combo. Maybe you don’t want to wear knee-highs in the dead of summer (hello calf sweat), but any other time is fair game.
You can usher in fall as soon as the beginning of September or keep your legs warm in the winter.
When spring doesn’t know what it wants to be quite yet, your dress and boots combo is still versatile and totally wearable.
3. Go for an Everyday Look with a Denim Jacket
I would bet you have at least one denim jacket in your wardrobe right now, right? Perhaps you even have more than one.
You grab this jacket as soon as the summer heat dissipates and then wear it in the spring when the days are, as mentioned, lingering frustratingly between warm and cold.
Have you ever worn a denim jacket with a dress, especially your black dress? I would guess that it might not have crossed your mind, especially if your LBD is a little more on the formal side.
That’s one of the reasons that I recommend pairing a denim jacket with a black dress the most, including formal black dresses.
There’s just something so timeless and wholesome about a denim jacket and so everyday chic that it makes whatever you wear with it a more everyday and laid-back style as well.
That will include your favorite black dress, especially if you pair the dress with a pair of silver flats or some tan-colored wedges.
You’re easy, breezy, stylish, but effortless.
Now you can take that formal dress to work without looking too stuffy. The jacket keeps your look youthful.
Just as a blazer can hide trouble areas, a denim jacket can do the same! It’s multifunctional.
4. Look Sexy and Cool with a Leather Jacket
Speaking of jackets (and this is the last jacket recommendation, I swear), a leather jacket looks awesome with an LBD!
I know, I know, you probably can’t picture it if you close your eyes and envision your favorite black dress and the leather jacket in your closet.
Trust me, it works, especially if you’re going for a sexy, mysterious style.
Now, the type of leather jacket you wear is important here. As fond of your boyfriend’s weathered motorcycle jacket as you may be, it’s too chunky and bulky to pair with your slick and streamlined black dress.
Leave that jacket in your closet or you’ll look too much like The Fonz, and not in a good way.
Instead, you should wear a fitted leather jacket, ideally one that’s made for ladies.
Any type of leather looks good, from shiny faux patent leather to the real deal.
Wear the jacket open so your dress is on display. You’ll enjoy the extra bit of warmth on your upper half and how the jacket will minimize trouble areas in the arms and stomach.
You can’t really transition this look to the office, so save it for those nights out with the girls or your partner.
5. Try Out a Statement Necklace
Statement necklaces are in and out of vogue. You might have a few from the last time this style was trendy, but you don’t wear them often because they can seem rather loud.
I agree! Large jewelry can make too bold of a statement sometimes, especially if you combine the jewelry with bold colors or patterns.
That said, a black dress is like a blank slate, thus giving you all the room you’ve always wanted to experiment with the statement pieces in your jewelry collection.
Perhaps you wear an oversized necklace that nearly hits your belly button, especially with a black dress with a round neckline that covers most of your chest.
You can wear a necklace down your back if your dress is backless or has a plunging cut in the back.
You can also try a chunky gold or silver necklace or even a colorful necklace with your black dress.
If you have several pieces of statement jewelry that you’re especially attached to, wear them all on different days! They will create different moods.
Compliment the colors with a matching handbag or clutch and shoes. You’ll look incredibly fashionable.
6. Wear a Chunky Cardigan and Leggings When It’s Cold
Dresses are about the last thing you want to wear in the winter, and to that, I ask why?
Sure, in below-freezing temperatures, you do want to cover as much of your skin as possible. That makes dresses less practical, especially if yours is sleeveless, backless, or short-sleeved.
However, this article is all about layering your favorite black dress with other styles, and I’ve got another such suggestion that will take you through the entire winter.
Wear some colorful or patterned leggings with the dress to start. Since your LBD is as black as midnight, any legging color will look good.
As I mentioned before, if you go too dark with the coloring of your leggings, the whole outfit can sort of bleed into each other.
That said, black leggings are a very common choice, so I get it. You don’t have to look washed out if you choose a bright cardigan.
Yes, that’s right, a cardigan. C’mon, you didn’t think I was going to let your upper half freeze, right? Of course not!
A thick, chunky, long cardigan will keep you nice and toasty and look oh-so-cute with the leggings.
You can button the cardigan or leave it open and it will look great either way. If your black dress is a little more form-fitting, hiding in the warmth and roominess of the cardigan should put your body image at ease for the day.
7. Tie a Shirt Around Your Waist and Wear Sneakers
Okay, so far, I’ve touched on ways to make your LBD look casual, sexy, mysterious, and winter-friendly, but what if you prefer a sportier style? Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about you.
You have two options here. You can take one of your favorite athletic jackets and wear it with your black dress, for starters.
This can look a little jarring to you, especially when you always wear your athletic jacket with leggings or sports shorts.
If that look isn’t exactly doing it for you, then take your jacket and tie it in a knot at your waist.
Voila, your hips, stomach, and waist look smaller. A person’s eyes will be drawn to this area, but since the jacket covers any trouble spots, you don’t have to feel so self-conscious.
Now try pairing this look with some sports sneakers that match the color of your sports jacket.
Yes, that’s right, I’m advocating for wearing sneakers with an LBD. It seems crazy until you try it, especially with the tied athletic jacket.
The whole look comes together despite that it maybe shouldn’t, and you end up looking fabulous!
8. Wear a Statement Scarf
Did statement scarves kind of die in the 2000s? Yes. Are the 2000s having a fashion moment at the time of this writing? Also, yes.
On top of that, who necessarily cares whether something is “in” right this moment when what is in and out fluctuates so rapidly anyway?
If you have a few nice scarves that you’ve held onto since the 2000s, I say there is no better time than now to dust off those bad boys and pair them with your black dress.
Long scarves, short scarves, silk scarves, knit scarves, experiment with what you’ve got in your closet until you find a scarf that fits your mood for the day.
Then pair the look with a statement handbag or a pair of shoes in the same color family.
You’re all ready to head out and win the day!
9. Put a Belt On It
One of the easiest and fastest ways to transform your LBD is to wear a belt with it.
You want a slimline fashion belt rather than one you use to hold up your trousers any other time.
The slimming shape of the belt and the way it wraps around your midsection will create the illusion of an hourglass shape, and what plus-size lady doesn’t want more of an hourglass frame?
A black belt will get lost in the shuffle, so try something in a bold hue like teal or leopard animal print.
The buckle and other hardware can be gold, silver, or copper. That’s up to you.
To take this look one step further, pair the belt with a statement necklace in the same matching metal. You’ll put on this look and swear that your dress was always supposed to be worn like this.
10. Make a Statement with a Shirt Over Your Dress
If you’re running out of ideas for styling that black dress, I’ve got one more that will truly reinvigorate the LBD you’ve been wearing so much.
Put a shirt on it! Your dress will become more of a skirt and feel totally fresh and new.
What kind of shirt? That’s up to you, of course.
A t-shirt with a catchy slogan might seem too casual, but don’t knock it until you try it. With a pair of sneakers or even heels, this whole look works.
You can also put on a sweater to make your dress more cold-weather-friendly, a nice blouse, or a sweatshirt for a comfortable yet fashionable look.
Conclusion
Wearing that black dress in a multitude of ways is super easy! Even better is that a lot of the styles I recommended today will come right out of your closet.
I hope you have fun mixing, matching, and experimenting!
