14 Gorgeous Black Wedding Guest Dresses, from $45 to $595

• Why We Love It: stretchy crepe knit fabric, thigh-high slit
• Size Range: XS to XL

Good luck not turning heads in this showstopper of a gown. Made from a stretchy crepe knit fabric, it’s surprisingly comfortable and, according to buyers, looks and feels way more expensive than its $89 price tag. It runs true to size, but, as a heads up, you might want to reserve it for indoor affairs. “SO pretty,” raves one reviewer. “Probably the most flattering dress I've ever worn. Very good quality fabric. It is a heavier and thicker fabric, so I wouldn't wear it for an outdoor summer wedding, but if you're indoors it is great.”

• Why We Love It: bodice ruching, removable straps
• Size Range: XXS to XXL in regular, petite and tall sizes

Our favorite kind of dress is one we can make work for a variety of occasions. This Abercrombie & Fitch midi is so versatile. First of all, there are removable straps, so you’re already kind of getting two dresses in one. Second, the poplin material is so easy to dress up or down: For a wedding, add strappy heeled sandals, a bold necklace and your favorite clutch; for a more casual weekend dinner, add the spaghetti straps for a lower-key vibe and stick to flat sandals or even simple white sneakers.

• Why We Love It: stretch fabric, flattering ruching
• Size Range: 1X to 3X

This knit midi hugs your curves in the best way. Featuring a mock neck, ruched bodice and shin-length hem, it’s elegant, figure-flattering and impossibly comfortable (think: very stretchy). And because it’s from Reformation, it’s eco-friendly to boot. It’s made with 88 percent Tencel Lyocell material and 12 percent spandex. That Tencel Lyocell comes from eucalyptus trees, which take only half an acre to produce one ton of fiber. Plus, the brand’s closed loop production means 99 percent of the non-toxic solvent is reused.

• Why We Love It: high neck, dramatic sleeves
• Size Range: XS to XL

Perfect for wedding guests who like to make a statement, this Revolve x Michael Costello number is a total showstopper, from the jersey knit fabric and sheer mesh cutout to those sleeves. Reviewers do note that because it’s meant to fit super tight, it does run a little small, so you might want to consider sizing up. Beyond that, happy customers rave about the thickness and quality of the material and how flattering the body-hugging silhouette is. One writes, “LOVE this dress! Nice thick material, holds you in quite a bit but can be hard to zip alone. Really slimming! I got a size S, and for reference I'm 5'3, 127 pounds, inverted triangle shape, size 26-27 jeans, 32DD bra.”

• Why We Love It: machine washable, elastic shoulder straps and waistband
• Size Range: XS to L

Perfect for a more casual outdoor wedding, this Seafolly midi dress will keep you comfortable and cool all night long. It’s made from breathable 100 percent cotton and features an elastic waistband and shoulder straps for a better fit. It’s also super versatile and can be dressed up (with block heels and a glitzy necklace) or down (with flat leather sandals and a simple crossbody bag). “I love this dress!” one Revolve shopper reports. It is so chic, gorgeous, cozy and perfect for any event!” Best of all, it’s machine washable, so there’s no need to ship it off to the dry cleaner before your next wedding.

• Why We Love It: flattering draping, 100 percent silk
• Size Range: XS to XL

Made of 100 percent silk, this unlined asymmetrical dress is the epitome of glam. Reviewers report that it fits true to size—though some recommend investing in fashion tape to prevent any wardrobe malfunctions. Per one reviewer, “It was absolutely beautiful! I felt so so elegant when I tried it on. It falls on the body perfectly. So flattering! Seriously it makes me feel expensive. It's so silky and it feels amazing against the skin. It's extremely thin (one sheet of satin) with no lining and you definitely have to wear skin color under garments, but it's not see through. The color is to die for! It looks exactly like the picture. I think maybe even better.” (And P.S., it comes in seven other gorgeous colors if the black version above isn’t quite doing it for you.)  

• Why We Love It: square neckline, popcorn-like texture
• Size Range: XXS to XXL

Mara Hoffman’s Sloan dress has earned something of a cult following since its debut a few years ago, and this all-black version is to-die-for. The elastic Tencel modal fabric is finished with a unique popcorn texture and the square neck and column silhouette are beyond elegant. “The texture of this dress is amazing,” writes one Mara Hoffman shopper. “It definitely helps to hide any body crinkles. I’m 5’8” and 155 pounds with an athletic body shape and I went for the medium just so I had a little room to move around; but I could have gone with a small for a tighter fit.” Indeed, this style runs large, according to the brand, so you might be better off sizing down one for the perfect fit.

• Why We Love It: embellished neckline, puff sleeves
• Size Range: 00 to 14

No necklace, no problem. This Kate Spade number has gorgeous embellished detailing at the neckline and bold puff sleeves. It’s made from 95 percent polyester and 5 percent elastane and the brand recommends dry cleaning over machine or hand washing. One reviewer notes that while the crystals at the neckline can feel a bit heavy, it’s totally worth it for all the compliments you’ll get.

• Why We Love It: tie back, high slit
• Size Range: 0 to 15 juniors (roughly 0 to 14 in women’s sizing)

Sparkles are the name of the game when it comes to this sequin-laden gown. The floral-inspired sequin pattern is so special, and the back has sexy tie detail for a more customizable fit. It’s also fully lined, so you don’t need to worry about any see-through moments, and the thigh-high slit will help even the most petite of wearers fake miles-long legs. Nordstrom reviewers say it runs true to size and is comfortable and looks and feels high-quality (a win considering it clocks in at well under $150).  

• Why We Love It: hybrid neckline, machine washable
• Size Range: XXS to XXL

Three words to sum up with Halogen maxi? Easy, breezy and beautiful. Designed with a smocked waist and tiered and ruffled skirt, this 100 percent polyester frock also features a hybrid halter and off-the-shoulder neckline. Reviewers rave about how comfortable and easy to wear it is, though more petite shoppers say it’s closer to floor length that ankle, as seen in the picture above. One 5’2” shopper writes, “I weigh 145 but I’m really curvy so I carry a lot of weight in my chest and hips but have a small waist which allows me to get a smaller size usually. I’d say I’m normally a small but I got the XS and it fit perfectly in my opinion, so I think depending on how you like things to fit you can probably size down and be okay, personally I love it…This dress really checked all the boxes, the balloon sleeves hide arm flab so this was a huge YES for me!”

• Why We Love It: customizable fit, high-low hem
• Size Range: XS to XL

Wrap dresses are a classic—for weddings, the office, basically any occasion—for a reason: They’re so flattering on pretty much every body type. This Kiyonna wrap dress is totally adjustable, meaning you can show as much (or as little) cleavage as you want, depending on how tightly you secure the tie at the middle—though customers point out that even though it’s adjustable, you never feel like it’s going to accidentally come untied. It also works for tons of occasions, body types and ages. One reviewer shares that she wore it to her college graduation while another writes, “I love this dress. It fits my 70-something year old body beautifully. It can be worn year-round and looks timeless. And very pretty.” Oh, and did we mention it’s machine washable? A no-brainer, if you ask us.

• Why We Love It: stretchy knit material, other colors available
• Size Range: XXS to XL

With almost 350 glowing reviews, this one-shoulder maxi dress from Lulu’s pretty much has it all. The stretchy knit material hugs your body in all the right places (and is so easy to move in), the single spaghetti strap is adjustable for a better fit and the high waist has a lengthening effect—all for just $69. But don’t just take our word for it; the reviews really speak for themselves. “This dress is *chefs kiss,*” writes one Lulu’s shopper. “I've never had such self-confidence. I was really hesitant to try this one on given the lack of zipper, but it is so form fitting, it actually holds in my curtain belly from my c-section amazing! It shows off curves well, and it made me feel beautiful after trying on several ‘no's.’ BUY IT!”

• Why We Love It: bow detail at neckline, lace hem
• Size Range: XXS to XL, plus petite sizes

This dress is all about the details, baby, and we can’t decide which one we love most: the dainty yet exaggerated tie at the neckline, the floaty, tent-like shape or the stunning lace overlay at the hem. This dry clean only dress has a polyester exterior and rayon lining and, like all dresses from the brand—whose name references a purple flower, a Greek goddess and an Irish warrior queen—is structured yet delicate, representing both beauty and strength. Because of that bold tie at the neck, we’d recommend eschewing a necklace in favor of dangly silver earrings and wearing your hair up in a bun.