black dress with sheer overlay Boxy Concert The Shibon Layered Mesh Dress features a fitted tank slip dress with a sheer mesh layer on top for a sleek Black Sheer Dress - Macy's

So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs

true to size

Swift posed on her own on the red carpet

With the help of small design secrets, voluminous hips can be concealed (or, on the contrary, made fuller)

Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Black Dress Womens formal dresses come in every fabric, sleeve length, and neckline imaginable