black white prom dress Hot Half Half One shoulder Long Sleeves Mermaid Dresses A subtle front slit enhances comfort and adds a hint of allure Stacees 2026 A-line Polkadot Prom

This article was co-authored by Susan Kim and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden

Complete the look with black heels, and layer a black blazer over for a refined look

Whether it's your first time attending a formal event or you're a seasoned pro, it's equally tricky landing on a gown that is equal parts dressy and trendy, but after all of the recent award show red carpets (the Met Gala, the Oscars, the BAFTAs to name a few), we've been taking notes from some of our favourite celebs on how to make occasionwear cool again

Then I realized my closet already held the ultimate Halloween hack: a plain black dress

Happy Halloween