women's grey dress pants Jones New York Bi-Stretch Straight Pant, / 8 Front pleated design High Waist Wide Leg Pant

While cocktail attire allows for shorter hemlines and playful experimentation, a formal evening event requires a heightened level of grandeur

And theres something nobody wants to say out loud: Black women are constantly told that certain colors are too much for us

In this case, the sandals are black, but the rhinestone strap lightens up the look and adds interest and formality to the outfit

Size range: XSXL Pastel Blue Cascading Ruffle Maxi Dress With Halter Neck Texture is more visible when rendered in lighter fabrics, like this baby blue dress from Revelry

Outfit Details: Rhode Open Back Dress (similar, less expensive here), Sandals How to Style a Flowy Dress One of the main reasons I love dresses is that theyre effortless