It’s that time of year when formal invitations are sent and that means finding the perfect dress for the occasions. Why not invest in a little black dress that will go perfectly with every occasion? All you have to do is accessorize with different jewelry, shoes, a belt, and it will look like a brand new dress. Her Campus has the 20 best little black dresses (or as we like to call them LBDs) for you to dress up or down to fit every event in your social calendar:
One-Shoulder Beauty-This one-shoulder silhouette is simply elegant with a tulip skirt and a high waist. To diversify it, wear it with different colored tights, without tights, or with different heels or flats.
Urban Outfitters, $124
Lace Love– This season’s obsession is lace, and I absolutely can’t get enough of it. This Madewell dress is absolutely stunning with its quarter-sleeve lace top and cinched waist. If you want to wear it for two different occasions, add a belt.
Madewell, $178
Perfect Party Dress– There’s nothing better than a lace-corseted dress with a frilly skirt for a formal event. For an affordable price, this dress is perfect for any formal occasion, and with the right shoes and jacket no one will notice you’re wearing it over again.
Forever 21, $24.80
So Sparkly– Sparkles are perfect for formal occasions. This gorgeous MM Couture dress is toga-inspired and splashed with sparkles for nightlife.
MM Couture, $148
Oh So Dreamy– With a sweetheart neckline and a skirt that falls above the knee this adorable J.Crew dress is appropriate for every formal occasion including birthday parties, sorority/fraternity functions, and fancy dinners.
J.Crew, $225
Cap Sleeved Goddess– Pockets on dresses do come in handy sometimes. This Aqua dress is adorable with its cap sleeves and simple shape. Dress it up with bangles, a large cocktail ring, or a long necklace to mix things up.
Aqua, $88
Mesh Madness– This chic Charlotte Russe dress is cheap and way too good to pass up on a college budget. The mesh look is also very in style right now. Wear your hair up or down to change up the look.
Charlotte Russe, $36.50
Breakfast at Tiffany’s– The first time I watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s when I was eleven, I only dreamed about my first little black dress. This Banana Republic dress looks just like Audrey’s, and can be accessorized with dozens of pearls (real or fake) and Ray Ban sunglasses.
Banana Republic, $150
One Shoulder Simple– Herve Leger came out with the very first bandage dress, and now you can buy an exact lookalike without dishing out the big bucks. With the one shoulder look and the bandage style, this Express dress will look fabulous for all formal occasions.
Express, $79.90
Fun and Flirty– This Anthropologie dress is fun and flirty with cap sleeves and a cinched waist. The dress is perfect for fancy dinners, dates, and formals.
Anthropologie, $158
Formal Shirt Dress– Contrary to popular belief, shirt dresses can be dressed up for a formal occasion. This shirtdress contains an asymmetrical hem and unique studded buttons. Mix it up with patterned tights and metallic or solid-colored heels.
Everyday or Eternal, $180
So Slinky– If you want a comfortable material that’s easy to dance in, jersey is the way to go. This ASOS one shoulder dress is incredible with a tulip skirt: you can dress it up with a metallic blazer and a rocking pair of heels.
ASOS, $64.03
Belted Beauty– Branching off Max Azria, no wonder this Max and Cleo dress is so cute! Wear it with the original belt, with another belt like a neon colored one, or without one and it will look like a whole new dress!
Max and Cleo, $148
Loving Some Leather– This winter season, leather is on the radar. This Theory dress is the right mix of simple and trendy with a leather front and jersey back—so stylish. Wear it with a belt or neon tights to make it colorful.
Theory, $325
Sweet and Simple– If you’re looking for something down-to-earth, this French Connection dress is right up your alley. With adjustable straps and a bodice-like top, it has a slimming effect that will make every girl feel like the belle of the ball.
French Connection, $138
Contemporary Chic– For those cold winter months when formals take place, you may want to have a long-sleeved dress instead of something more exposed. To add a little twist, this dress has grey blocks and military-inspired shoulders.
Barlow, $216
Cutoutastic– I’m absolutely obsessed with this Topshop dress. It’s the perfect balance of ‘50s flair with the flouncy skirt and modern edge with the cutouts. This dress is absolutely jaw dropping, and will have the college boys shaking in their boat shoes.
Top Shop, $100
Elegant and Effortless– With cutout shoulders and pockets that could definitely come in handy (you all know how I feel about pockets by now), this dress is absolutely elegant. Paired with a chunky necklace, black tights, and the perfect pair of heels, you’ll be ready to go to any formal occasion.
Roxy, 49.50
Made With Velvet– If you want something plain and simple with no bells and whistles, this American Apparel dress is for you. This little black dress is long sleeved and velvet, perfect for the holiday season. It’s very versatile and can be worn with belts, jackets, jewelry, neon-colored shoes, and tights.
American Apparel, $42
Full of Frills– The list ends with an RSVP dress that seemed like a blank slate to me. Wear this dress with a cute shrug, a braided belt, a cute jacket—anything is possible this dress.
RSVP, $86.21