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Every jetsetter needs to have a little black travel dress in her wardrobe. It’s the basic that makes up the core of a travel wardrobe, an item that you can always count on trip after trip. We’ve compiled a few of our favorite dresses along with our reader favorites. Which one will you bring on your next trip?
Best Black Dresses for Women
Table Of Contents
Below you’ll find our favorite black dresses for women that work well for spring or summer travel—they’re comfortable and stylish, too! Note: There are many plus size black dress styles available below, but not all retailers show all sizes on the same listing; we’ve tried our best to indicate this in the descriptions as shown above.
Daily Ritual Jersey Sleeveless V-Neck Midi Dress | Sizes XS-XXL and 1X-7X Plus
The Perfect Little Black Dress (Plus Size Available)
In search of comfortable yet cute black dresses for tropical weather, I recently added this Daily Ritual sleeveless style to my wardrobe. It was not only suitable for the humid climate in Playa del Carmen where I live, but it’s also perfect for travel!
It has a thin, lightweight fabric that’s absolutely comfortable in the heat, yet it’s awesome because it’s thick enough that you don’t need to worry about it being see-through. At under $20, this dress is ultra-affordable!
Shop sizes XS-XXL and plus sizes 1X-7X.
Dresses are the perfect staple to add to your functional travel capsule wardrobe. Learn more in my guide!
Short Sleeve Summer Casual Flared Midi Dress
Black Short Sleeve Midi Dress
Wear this cute womens black dress with sneakers or comfortable sandals during the day, and add pretty jewelry with ballet flats for the night. It’s soft, easy to wash, and inexpensive!
For a similar style with a hemline below the knees, try this dress instead!
Leith Ruched Sheath Dress | Sizes XXS-XL and Sizes 1X-4X Plus
Cute Short Black Dresses
I originally bought the “famous” Nordstrom Leith dress because so many readers raved about it. Now, I love it so much, I ended up buying it in several colors and it’s become a staple piece in my travel capsule wardrobe. It’s easy to pack, wrinkle-resistant, and can be dressed up or down. Watch my full video review here!
Shop sizes XXS-XL and plus sizes 1X-4X.
Read to find out what’s the best fabric for travel!
Columbia Moisture Wicking Fabric Freezer III Dress | Sizes XS-XL and 1X-3X Plus
Basic Black Dresses
While dresses are ideal for travel, choosing styles with the right fabrics is incredibly important. This is where an outdoor company such as Columbia comes into play. This easy to wear plain black dress looks good in a range of destinations yet offers the functionality of active or fitness wear. Talk about striking the perfect travel fashion balance!
Shop sizes XS-XL and plus sizes 1X-3X.
Take a look at 5 sundress outfits that transform an everyday summer dress!
prAna Cantine Dress | Sizes XS-XL
Short Black Dress with Built in Bra
For female travelers that prefer a braless option, the prAna Cantine dress features a built-in shelf bra for the ultimate wire-free experience. Perfect for hot weather and travel, the dress has moisture-wicking, wrinkle resistant fabric that will pack light and keep you fresh, too.
Take a look at the latest trends with these cute summer dresses for women!
Toad&Co Sunkissed Maxi Dress | Sizes XS-XL
Long Black Dress
Toad and Co hit the mark with this maxi dress! It’s feminine yet insanely practical—a combination that so many travel clothing brands just don’t seem to understand. The fabric is feather light, quick-dry, and moisture wicking. Not only will it keep you cool, but it’s also ultra-packable!
Note: The top half of this dress seems best for bust sizes A-C. I did alter this dress by having it brought in at the shoulders to avoid my bra from showing under my arms. I love the style nonetheless!
Take a look at these eco-friendly vacation clothing. These styles are a must see!
Daily Ritual Jersey Short-Sleeve Scoop Neck T-Shirt Dress | Sizes XS-XXL and 1X-7X Plus
Black T-Shirt Dress
This is another popular option with the readers and many rate it as the best little black dress for travel. It’s an easy to wear, versatile design all while being comfortable enough to wear for all day sightseeing. Ideal for spring and summer travels, you can wear it anywhere from New York to London and Sydney to Bangkok, too.
Layer it with leggings underneath and it will transition into cooler weather in a pinch!
Shop sizes XS-XXL and plus sizes 1X-7X.
Check out more versatile dresses to choose from!
Stylishly Simple Black Dress
This classy black dress is as practical as it is stylish. It has edgy zipper details, a silky smooth wrinkle-resistant fabric, and is soft enough to be worn for a long sightseeing day.
This designer dress is on the pricey side, but don’t worry, we’ve got a range of products listed below to suit everyone’s budget.
We’ve compiled the ultimate list of what our readers rank as the best dress for hot weather travels!
Waist-Defined Slub-Knit Midi T-Shirt Dress for Women
Cheap Black Dress With Sleeves
Old Navy is always a popular go-to option for female travelers. They offer travel-friendly lightweight fabrics in a range of sizes such as plus, tall, and petite. Not to mention, all of their clothing is easy on the budget as well.
We have rounded up our favorite travel dresses that will help you pack light and fashionably!
Icebreaker Merino Yanni Tank Summer Travel Dress
Casual Black Dress
If you’re chasing the sun and need to pack more clothes in less space, merino wool summer dresses are the way to go. They’re ideal for backpackers and long term travelers because they can be worn repeatedly without washing (read why here), they keep you cool and fresh in tropical climates, and they’re also very packable.
Pair it with stylish dress sandals!
Eileen Fisher Scoop Neck Full-Length Dress
Full Length Black Dress
Eilieen Fisher always gets top marks from our readers and this dress is no exception. Featuring 100% cotton, the lightweight fabric is comfortable yet the style is polished enough to be dressed up or worn casually.
The clothing is high quality and perfect for travel. Keep an eye out for sales, although, the investment is well worth it for frequent flyers.
Pack less clothing and more jewelry for beautiful travel outfits!
Eddie Bauer Departure Long-Sleeve Wrap Dress
Long Sleeve Black Dress
Eddie Bauer is a brand that’s recently gotten on our radar for cute and practical travel clothes, especially their jackets and dresses. The Departure Dress series consists of classic button down dresses that would be as appropriate worn in a business class lounge as they would be while dining at a quaint European cafe.
Use these accessories and hats for a fun and stylish way to update your outfit!
Arc’teryx Contenta Shift Dress
Black Shift Dress
A classic shift is a must in every woman’s wardrobe. We’re very impressed with the selection of fashionable yet functional dresses by Arcteryx and are hoping this ultra-chic style comes back in stock soon.
Check out these flip flops that you can add to your wardrobe!
Black Travel Dress Comparison Chart
| BRANDS | REVIEWS | RATINGS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Ritual Jersey Sleeveless V-Neck Midi Dress |
It has a thin, lightweight fabric that’s absolutely comfortable in the heat, yet it’s awesome because it’s thick enough that you don’t need to worry about it being see-through. | Check Price | |
|
Daily Ritual Jersey Short-Sleeve Scoop Neck T-Shirt Dress Plus |
This is another popular option with the readers and many rate it as the best little black dress for travel. It’s an easy to wear, versatile design all while being comfortable enough to wear for all day sightseeing. | Check Price | |
|
Anatomie Devia Side Zip Dress |
This classy black dress is as practical as it is stylish. It has edgy zipper details, a silky smooth wrinkle-resistant fabric, and is soft enough to be worn for a long sightseeing day. | Check Price | |
|
Leith Ruched Sheath Dress |
I originally bought the “famous” Nordstrom Leith dress because so many readers raved about it. Now, I love it so much, I ended up buying it in several colors and it’s become a staple piece in my travel capsule wardrobe. | Check Price | |
|
Toad&Co Sunkissed Maxi Dress |
Toad and Co hit the mark with this maxi dress! It’s feminine yet insanely practical—a combination that so many travel clothing brands just don’t seem to understand. The fabric is feather light, quick-dry, and moisture wicking. Not only will it keep you cool, but it’s also ultra-packable! | Check Price | |
|
Columbia Moisture Wicking Fabric Freezer III Dress |
This easy to wear plain black dress looks good in a range of destinations yet offers the functionality of active or fitness wear. Talk about striking the perfect travel fashion balance! | Check Price | |
|
prAna Cantine Dress |
For female travelers that prefer a braless option, the prAna Cantine dress features a built-in shelf bra for the ultimate wire-free experience. | Check Price | |
|
Waist-Defined Slub-Knit Midi T-Shirt Dress for Women |
Old Navy is always a popular go-to option for female travelers. They offer travel-friendly lightweight fabrics in a range of sizes such as plus, tall, and petite. | Check Price | |
|
Icebreaker Merino Yanni Tank Summer Travel Dress |
If you’re chasing the sun and need to pack more clothes in less space, merino wool summer dresses are the way to go. They’re ideal for backpackers and long term travelers because they can be worn repeatedly without washing | Check Price | |
|
Eileen Fisher Scoop Neck Full-Length Dress |
Eilieen Fisher always gets top marks from our readers and this dress is no exception. Featuring 100% cotton, the lightweight fabric is comfortable yet the style is polished enough to be dressed up or worn casually. | Check Price | |
|
Short Sleeve Summer Casual Flared Midi Dress |
Wear this cute womens black dress with sneakers or comfortable sandals during the day, and add pretty jewelry with ballet flats for the night. It’s soft, easy to wash, and inexpensive! | Check Price | |
|
Eddie Bauer Departure Long-Sleeve Wrap Dress |
The Departure Dress series consists of classic button down dresses that would be as appropriate worn in a business class lounge as they would be while dining at a quaint European cafe. | NO RATINGS | Check Price |
|
Arc'teryx Contenta Shift Dress |
A classic shift is a must in every woman’s wardrobe. We’re very impressed with the selection of fashionable yet functional dresses by Arcteryx and are hoping this ultra-chic style comes back in stock soon. | Check Price |
How to Pack Dresses
Bundle wrap the clothes and place them into packing cubes for organization. Watch this video to see this packing method in action!
Learn our hacks with packing cubes in the video above!
How TFG’s Editor Wears Little Black Dress
What do you think is the perfect black travel dress? Share and comment below!
For more of our favorite travel dresses, please read:
- These are the Best Vacation Maxi Dresses for Summer
- Cute Summer Dresses for Women Who Travel
- Best Convertible Travel Dresses: Flirty, Feminine, and Functional, Too
- Versatile Dresses: How to Wear One Dress, Many Ways
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