black dress with big bow Stylish Large Bowknot Tea-Length Bridesmaid holiday parties. Eleanor Black and White Bow

Pointed-toe stiletto boots or classic patent pumps in black elongate the leg instantly

Knee-length black cocktail dresses Knee-length styles are one of the safest choices for wedding guests

You can still add more red to your outfit strategically by focusing on texture, she said, adding that it's a great way to add dimension

Collina Strada Butterfly Gown, collinastrada.com

Assign the numbers to the lines on the pattern

Maybe not the shoes, but definitely the dress. The fun thing about a black dress is that you can make it super subversive, says Young, who points to Marc Jacobss brilliant Fall 2023 collection of tiny little black dresses with exposed bra cups and micro bubble hems