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Two previous picks in this guide—the Equipment Essential Silk Dress and the Universal Standard Rita Ribbed Sweater Dress With Pockets—have been discontinued. Dress Women Summer Casual
The little black dress is more than just a go-to piece that you pull out for parties. It’s an iconic part of fashion history, beloved by everyone from Audrey Hepburn to the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race. There are countless interpretations of the LBD—we couldn’t even reach a consensus on the exact definition—but the experts we consulted universally agreed that it should make you feel like your best self. And since this is a wardrobe staple that will outlive any trend, we think it’s worth it to invest in a high-quality garment that will last for years.
We spent months on our quest to find the best little black dresses, combing through 145 options and testing 33 of them in person. Our panel included three Wirecutter staffers (who wear dress sizes 2, 8, and 12) and New York City–based curve model and body-acceptance advocate Kendra Austin (who wears a size 14). In the end, we landed on three favorites: a chic turtleneck dress in buttery cashmere, a polished sheath dress for the office and beyond, and the ultimate little black cocktail dress.
Made from soft, high-quality cashmere, this warm and breathable turtleneck sweater dress feels like wearing a cloud. Its form-fitting—but not overly tight—cut is flattering on many body types, though petite people might find it a bit too long.
How to wear it: The Naadam Cashmere Turtleneck Dress with Slits is ideal for staying cozy when it’s chilly out; it can easily be dressed up or down, and it looks particularly great paired with boots or booties.
Why it’s great: This one has everything we were looking for in a cashmere dress: a chic look, an outstanding fit for many body types, and a soft, high-quality loft.
We tested three cashmere sweater dresses, and the Cashmere Turtleneck Dress was the most luxurious of the bunch. It’s made of 100% Mongolian cashmere, which should only get softer with time. We found it to be a bit more breathable than another turtleneck sweater dress we tried. And that’s important because a dress that’s extra-warm when you’re outside can often feel stifling when you go indoors in cooler weather, when the heat’s cranked up. Also, the knit is tight and durable, so it’s less likely to snag or stretch out with wear than looser knits.
This LBD’s slouchy turtleneck, long sleeves, and dual slits give it just the right amount of polish. It’s form-fitting enough to show your shape, but it’s not skin-tight. Rather, it skims the body in a flattering way. Our testers found the design to be comfortable and casual, and they said the slits in the skirt were a nice surprise, especially since the overall design is fairly modest.
From a practical standpoint, our panelists thought the Cashmere Turtleneck Dress was much cozier than the shorter cashmere dresses they tried that left their legs cold. Wear this dress with heels or boots for fancier occasions, or pair it with some outstanding crisp white sneakers when you’ve got errands to run.
The Cashmere Turtleneck Dress’s fit was a hit with panelists of all sizes. One tester, who wears a size 2 and is 5-foot-9, loved the cut and said the dress fell at a flattering, midcalf length. Tester and body-acceptance advocate Kendra Austin, who wears a size 14 and is 5-foot-7, said it was comfy and flattering on her curvy frame. “You feel like you’re resting in a cloud and look amazing,” she said. “And the sexy slits on the side make the dress both entirely appropriate and saucy. Love.”
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Though this dress fit all of our testers, our 5-foot-3 panelist didn’t love the length—the midi hemline fell nearly to her ankles.
Sizes: 2XS to 2XL Care instructions: Dry-clean, hand-wash, or machine-wash this dress according to its care-label instructions.
Simple and streamlined—yet far from boring, thanks to those confident cap shoulders—this sheath dress is perfect for nailing a job interview or presentation, then hitting the town to celebrate. Plus, it’s fully lined and has pockets that are deep enough to hold a cell phone or coin purse.
How to wear it: The J.Crew Résumé Dress is ideal for the office, an interview, or any event where you want to look polished and put-together. It’s more comfortable than most of the workday dresses we tested, and special details like cap shoulders add interest without feeling frilly or casual.
Why it’s great: The Résumé is our favorite dress for rocking a professional—but not boring—look at the office. At first glance, it appears to be an unassuming basic, but cap shoulders and flattering seaming give the simple design extra interest, especially compared with other sheath dresses we considered. “The shoulder detail is really making this dress for me,” said Wirecutter senior editor Jen Hunter. The Résumé also has everyone’s favorite feature: pockets. They’re deep enough to hold a coin purse or cell phone without adding too much bulk to the silhouette, and they remain flush against the hips when empty.
The Résumé is special enough to work on its own, but it’s also easy to pair with a statement necklace or a bold jacket—a quality that our fashion experts said defines a classic little black dress. “The power of the little black dress is it’s something you can dress up or down, something that you can accessorize,” said Arielle Siboni, ready-to-wear fashion director at Bloomingdale’s.
The Résumé is of a higher quality than many of the other similar dresses we tested. We liked its strong, even stitching and reinforced waist, which doesn’t feel like it will stretch with wear. This dress also has a polyester lining, which we think will aid its longevity and prevent deodorant marks from showing through the fabric (as we’ve seen happen on dresses that don’t have linings). Nearly a quarter of the dresses we tested weren’t lined at all.
The Résumé is made of a wool-elastane blend that was soft and more comfortable than some of the other wool dresses we tried. And the fabric has just the right amount of give, so it’ll still fit if you gain a few pounds.
This dress ran slightly large for some testers—if you’re between sizes, we suggest sizing down. One tester with a straighter figure found the Résumé to be a bit too big everywhere. Our panelists with larger hips liked how forgiving the dress was in the waist and hips, but they found the bust a tad too large (and worth taking in). Sizes range from 00 to 24 in the regular cut, which we tested, and this dress also comes in petite and tall sizes. We recommend trying it on in the store, if you can, or ordering multiple sizes to find your perfect fit.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The material of this dress is thinner than that of some other workday dresses we tested, though the lining does add some structure. Still, tummy rolls are hard to hide without shapewear (not that anyone needs it!).
Sizes: 00 to 24 (regular); 00 to 12 (petite); 2 to 20 (tall) Care instructions: Dry-clean this dress.
This LBD’s delicate pleats, high neck, and exposed shoulders make it a refined choice for an evening out. It’s the priciest option we recommend, but it’s a worthy investment.
How to wear it: The elegant A.L.C. Renzo Pleated Midi Dress is perfect for a glam party or extra-special date night, or if you’re auditioning for pretty much any role that Nicole Kidman might play.
Why it’s great: Everything about this head-turning dress feels delicate. The handkerchief hemline is soft, and the accordion pleats dance as you move. The design is both sexy and elegant: Pleats give it a flirty feel, while the high neckline and midi length keep it sophisticated.
We especially like the fit of the Renzo. The A-line silhouette and midi length were flattering on our testers who wore sizes 2, 8, and 12. And the stretchy, gathered waist and flowy skirt make this dress forgiving for anyone who wants to hide their tummy. The design features exposed shoulders, so regular bra straps may show. Our testers found that the flowy pleats on the bodice hid the lines of a strapless bra just fine (a halter bra would also work well).
We were a bit surprised that a dress at this price was made of polyester rather than silk, but that disappointment was short-lived. The billowy cut made the Renzo very breathable, and its fabric felt softer and more luxurious than many silk dresses we tested. It was also of a much higher quality than cheaper polyester dresses we tried.
Wirecutter editor Christina Colizza, who wears a size 12, fell in love with the Renzo. “This dress is so beautiful I almost want to cry,” she said. “The pleats are so delicate, and the material is so nice.” That delicacy will require hand-washing or dry-cleaning. But if it’s cared for properly, this dress could remain in your wardrobe for years.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: At $595, this little black dress is the priciest option we recommend. But if you can swing it, we think the timeless design is worth the investment. The Renzo is also sold in a narrower range of sizes, from 00 to 14 (depending on the retailer) than most of our picks. This midi dress is designed to hit midcalf, but if you’re under 5-foot-5, it may hit closer to your ankles. (Our testers of all heights found the length flattering.) And the three tiny keyhole buttons on the collar can be challenging to fasten, especially if you have limited upper-body mobility.
Sizes: 00 to 14 Care instructions: Dry-clean or hand-wash this dress.
I spent three months digging into what makes the perfect little black dress. I interviewed fashion influencers, stylists, directors, and historians. I learned what makes a little black dress timeless and worth purchasing from Katie Sturino, a body-acceptance advocate, social influencer, and the founder of body-care line MegaBabe; Allison McGevna, an Instagram curvy-style icon who’s also senior vice president of content at iOneDigital; and Influencing in Color, a quartet of fashion influencers from Houston.
I asked Brett A. Jamison, a Bloomingdale’s stylist, and Arielle Siboni, Bloomingdale’s ready-to-wear fashion director, how someone would go about finding a great dress in their price range. And I spoke with Daniel James Cole, adjunct assistant professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology and co-author of The History of Modern Fashion, about what makes the little black dress so iconic.
There’s an art to selecting a little black dress that will stand the test of time. Pick a style you love, find a flattering fit and cut, and seek out quality fabric and good construction. Your best bet is to opt for simple, clean lines, with a shape and hemline that you’re likely to want to wear for many seasons to come. “It shouldn’t be something you look at in two years and go, ‘What was I thinking?’” said Katie Sturino, a body-acceptance advocate and the founder of body-care line MegaBabe.
Consider the cut and fit of the dress. Cut refers to the shape of a dress, such as A-line, empire waist, or sheath. Stylists have long advised people to select dresses that are best cut for their “body type,” but we think any dress that makes you feel dazzling is the right cut.
This will come as no surprise to anyone who wears women’s clothing, but during testing there was no consistency in sizing across labels. For example, I typically wear a dress size 8 or M, and I found myself wearing everything from a 2XS to an XL. To be as precise as possible, our testers measured themselves, and we ordered sizes based on each retailer’s bust-waist-hip measurement charts, which also weren’t always exact. We recommend that you do the same, and if you’re still unsure, order two sizes and keep the one that fits the best. If you’re between sizes, our experts recommend sizing up and having the dress tailored. “It’s much easier to get something taken in than taken out,” noted Sturino.
Hold out for quality fabric and construction. The type and quality of the fabric dictates how easy a dress will be to clean, whether it will be comfortable and breathable, and how likely it is to last. The dress’ stitching is also a good indicator of quality: Avoid frayed, broken, or loose threads, which will only continue to break down with each wear. Look for shorter stitches, which generally produce a stronger seam, and for consistent, even lines. A consistent, short stitch depth (the distance between the stitch’s top and lower surface) that’s closer to the edge of the garment is typically more refined.
Dresses made from high-quality materials like wool, silk, and cashmere tend to be pricier than some of the inexpensive cotton or polyester dresses we spotted at Amazon or Target, but our experts agreed they’re worth the extra cost. “The goal is to be able to wear this dress over and over again,” said Arielle Siboni, Bloomingdale’s ready-to-wear fashion director, noting that a well-made little black dress can easily last you five years.
“In the era of fast fashion, we buy a lot of cheap, replaceable things for one night out,” said Allison McGevna, a curvy fashion influencer. “But if you buy something of quality, it’ll really last you and have versatility as well.”
Keep in mind that buying a pricy dress means nothing if you don’t care for it properly. Our picks, as well as most higher-quality dresses we considered, all have to be dry-cleaned or hand-washed. Though those methods are not as easy as tossing your dress in the washer, it’s important to follow the care instructions to keep your investment looking good.
On our quest to find the best little black dresses, we scoured style blogs, forums, best-seller catalogs, and social feeds. We also browsed listings of more than 30 retailers, from big-box stores to boutique shops, including 11 Honoré, Amazon, Artizia, Bloomingdale’s, Everlane, Joie, Rouje, Target, and others.
We considered 145 dresses, noting their overall aesthetics, prices, size availability, customer reviews, materials, and any notable features, like pockets or belts. We selected a mix of dresses in a range of styles and prices that ranked highest among these criteria. That left us with 33 dresses—a mix of casual, professional, and date-night styles—to test in person.
For the initial round of testing, I measured my bust, waist, and hips, and I ordered each dress in my size according to the retailer’s sizing charts. I typically wear a women’s dress size 8 or M, but in the often-inconsistent world of women’s clothing sizes, retailers’ sizing charts put me anywhere from a 2XS to an XL.
I wore each dress for an hour and paid attention to the quality, style, fit, and comfort. Then I took a picture of myself in each dress to compare the style and fit side by side. I also noted which dresses were dry-clean-only and which were machine-washable. I washed and dried the 16 machine-washable dresses and noted any color fading, frayed hems, or shrinking.
Then I selected the 14 highest-ranking contenders to be tested by a panel: two Wirecutter staffers (women’s size 2/S and 5-foot-9 and size 12/L and 5-foot-10), and a professional curve model (size 14XL and 5-foot-7). I enlisted three additional testers who typically wear a women’s 2/S, a 12/L, and a 14/XL. The panelists paid special attention to the dresses’ overall quality, style, fit, and comfort. They also noted how they’d wear each dress and which ones, if any, they’d purchase for themselves. All of the panelists identify as women.
I also compared our 14 final dresses against the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs’ List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor database. None of the finalists were made in the countries that appear on the DOL’s list (however, since half of the finalists are made of synthetic materials, they’re not applicable to that list). And we couldn’t independently confirm where most of these companies source their fabrics because they either don’t publicize that information or provided vague responses when asked.
This is not a comprehensive list of everything we tested in previous iterations of this guide, just what’s still available.
The 100% viscose A.P.C. Oleson dress felt too heavy on our bodies, and it looked shapeless on most of our testers.
We thought the ASOS Design Tall Soft Denim Tea Dress was too juvenile, and the fit wasn’t true to size.
The ASOS Sweetheart Neck Midi Dress with Ruched Wrap Skirt was ill-fitting—the bust and waist were too loose, even when we sized down. This dress is supposed to accentuate your curves, but instead it felt like a dowdy robe.
The stitching quality was subpar on the B Collection by Bobeau Mathilde Smocked Flutter-Sleeve Dress, and the fit wasn’t true to size. (It felt more like a witch costume than something worthy of a date night.)
The Black Label by Evan-Picone Sleeveless Fit & Flare Dress is a basic-looking business-casual dress that simply didn’t stand out.
The DB MOON Women Summer Casual Short Sleeve Dress is an inexpensive option from Amazon, but the quality was mediocre.
None of our panelists liked the style or fit of the Universal Standard Geneva Dress or the Universal Standard Helen Liquid Jersey Shift Dress. Testers thought they were unflattering, and that the fabric was too thin. The Universal Standard Misa Dress looked better in person than it did online. Our panelists liked its simplicity but thought there was nothing particularly special about it—and the self-tie strap reminded them of the ’90s grunge-sweatshirt-tied-around-the-waist look.
This article was edited by Ingela Ratledge Amundson and Jennifer Hunter.
Meghan Adams, Nikki Gamble, Brandy Gueary, and Shay Sweeney, Influencing in Color, phone interview, September 3, 2020
Daniel James Cole, adjunct assistant professor at Fashion Institute of Technology, phone interview, September 8, 2020
Brett A. Jamison, stylist at Bloomingdale’s, phone interview, September 20, 2020
Allison McGevna, senior vice president of content at iOneDigital, Google Hangouts interview, October 23, 2020
Arielle Siboni, ready-to-wear fashion director, Bloomingdale’s, phone interview, September 2, 2020
Katie Sturino, founder of MegaBabe, phone interview, September 2, 2020
Kaitlyn Wells is a senior staff writer who advocates for greater work flexibility by showing you how to work smarter remotely without losing yourself. Previously, she covered pets and style for Wirecutter. She's never met a pet she didn’t like, although she can’t say the same thing about productivity apps. Her first picture book, A Family Looks Like Love, follows a pup who learns that love, rather than how you look, is what makes a family.
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