black tie optional dresses for wedding Martha Stewart Weddings | Not sure what “black optional” really means? You're not alone. Before you start stressing over what to wear, head to the link in our Black Tie Optional Attire Guide:

Silhouette:Trumpet/Mermaid

Waist : Measure the circumference where the waist is narrower, usually just above the belly button

Tuck it into black straight-leg jeans or black tailored pants for a clean foundation

Kate and Naomi at an Elite Model Agency Party in 1993

[hubspot type=form portal=6185384 id=7aa19e91-dc81-4685-a3e6-da8cf14c48d8] According to a 2022 report by Nielson, Black consumers possess more power and influence in the retailing marketplace than ever before given their growing buying power and population rate. The report also notes that the Black population is expected to grow by 22% between 2020 and 2060, along with their buying power which is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by the end of 2024, with an analysis by McKinsey & Company suggesting that Black consumers spending on apparel and footwear alone will grow by about six percent a year to equal $70 billion by 2030

With black dresses, I prefer to wear fun shoes and red lips to make the look feel like more festive cocktail attire