Black-Tie Dresses: The Rules, Regs and Best to Buy Now

Hannah Almassi's avatar
By
last updated
in Buying Guides

If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that shopping for a black-tie dress is quite an exciting prospect. The introduction of this dress code to any event spells the message out loud and clear: Make an effort. And any girl who likes getting dressed up can really go to town when that kind of invite arrives with a gleeful thud on the doormat.

While the requirements of the black-tie dress code do mean that your choice needs to have a modicum of respectability (this is not the chance to go crazy with cutouts or aim for a really short hemline), here is your big excuse to bust out the bold colour, fire up the ruffles, do a smash and grab on the sequins, unleash your inner lamé addict, brave something backless, go va-va-voom in velvet and, well, I think you get it. This year, more than any other, the concept of outgoing eveningwear has been wholeheartedly supported by designers, buyers and high-street stores.

black-tie-dresses-243829-1512401310519-main

(Image credit: Style du Monde)

This is no lame attempt to look fancy. The best black-tie dresses of 2017 have "I'VE ENTERED THE ROOM" writ large. So keep on reading to shop from my current 17 favourites—make sure you've got a showstopper for that next major event in the calendar.

Related: Trust Me, I Know Good Shoes, and These Party-Ready Pairs Are Everything

Related: I'm Only Here for Classy Christmas Jumpers—22 That Meet My Expectations

Hannah Almassi
Hannah Almassi
Managing Director, Women's UK

Hannah Almassi is the MD for Women’s UK at Future PLC. Following a decade-long tenure as Who What Wear UK’s first Editor-in-Chief, she now oversees Who What Wear and Marie Claire in the UK. Hannah has been part of the the Who What Wear brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. As an expert at the intersection of content, commerce, building brands and monetising digital platforms, she now combines her editorial experience alongside business acumen to help guide digital titles into the future.