velvet dress black Costarellos - Laurette Silk Strapless Gown has a pretty gold embellishment which wraps the neckline Angela Black Velvet Burnout Long

What our experts say: "I was honestly pleasantly surprised by this dress," says Style Optimization Editor Hannah Oh

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I chose to have fun with a colorful black-based purse with blue/purple tones to tie into the navy dress, and green accents for a kick of color

And outside of high fashion, it's still the ultimate 'safe but stylish' choice

Explore the Black and Gold Dresses Collection at Lady Black Tie and find your perfect look for any special event

While a black suit is formal, its not considered equivalent to a tuxedo for a black tie event