As I made abundantly clear in the first post of this series, I love black in the summer: minimal, chic, dramatic, casual, statement, practical, sensual – black can do it all. I have to admit, however, that after a week’s worth of black looks, I’m ready to move on. I have been dreaming of eccentric combinations of florals, checks and golden brocade, of red and rust. Before we get to that, I still have one black outfit to share with you, a bonus track, if you will: a long evening dress.

One could say that a black gown is the most boring way to do eveningwear and one would, I suspect, be correct. It is the default choice of many people and can look rather unoriginal. Leaving aside the fact that not everyone wants to stand out in the first place, there are good reasons why black is so popular. It is easier to get right than more ambitious colours, it’s sophisticated, flattering and – especially if you pair it with heels – will make you look taller and more slender. If practical considerations are important to you, a black column is appropriate in many situations that require a long dress, with the possible exception of weddings*. As long as you pick a classic cut, you can wear a black dress for years without looking silly or dated.

You probably know that I’m going to say this, but I’m going to say it anyway: a long black dress is even better in summer, because everything above applies, but you’ll also look interesting. You’ll look like a woman who is not afraid to wear black in summer and that is, to my mind, univocally a good thing. Velvet is maybe somewhat difficult to pull off**, but for example lace and silk work perfectly. I suggest wearing open (stiletto) sandals or nude heels to make the overall vibe lighter and would consider sparkly, pearl or gold earrings for the same reason. You don’t need to religiously match black with black, although if you do decide to go full Sicilian widow, I of course approve.

The dress I’m wearing here is by Riina Põldroos. Similarly to this one, it has a silky slip underneath and a chiffon layer on top, so you do in fact get three dresses in one. I haven’t photographed the options (as I’ve done something similar before), but you can definitely wear the slip on its own and the top layer with a body suit or jeans. This dress is also the only thing in the entire series that I don’t own – I certainly wouldn’t mind having it, but I’ve already got four long black dresses*** and I’m trying to be reasonable here.

So here you are, dear readers: black for days. Which one was your favourite? I’ll be back soon with a reading update, gym talk and autumn trends.

*I’m not really bothered about black in weddings (as you already know, I’m no fan of rules or conventions), I say unless you are the ex of either the bride or the groom, feel free to wear that black slip dress.
**Although I’d argue it can be done.
***And I’m not counting the ones that have a black background.

Dress by Riina Põldroos, shoes by ALDO. Images Getter Kuusmaa, MUAH Erle Taklai.