Effie Kats Black Dresses and Gowns: The 12 to Buy, From the Verona to the Sequinned Thalia

Black is the colour Effie Kats is bought in most, and the colour its hire market runs on. Of the 239 pieces at Luxury Shoes , 96 are black in crepe, velvet and sequin, which means nearly every silhouette the house makes exists in black, and the choice is not whether but which. This guide ranks the twelve black Effie Kats dresses and gowns to buy, from the Verona that goes to everything to the sequinned Thalia that goes to one thing, with the neckline, the price and the occasion for each, then the sizing rules that differ between them.

Key facts

• 96 of the 239 Effie Kats pieces at Luxury Handbags are black, in stretch crepe, stretch velvet and sequin.
• Black gowns run $390 (Zena) to $1,370 (Russian Gown) at Luxury Shoes ; the four core gowns in black are $440 to $480.
• The core black gowns, Verona, Marbella, Monroe and Inaya, are continuity styles the brand reissues every season and the most listed Effie Kats pieces on Australian hire platforms.
• All crepe pieces are 95 percent polyester and 5 percent elastane, lined in the same; black crepe holds its colour through repeated dry cleaning.
• Sizes XS to XL (AU and UK 6 to 14); every gown is floor length on the brand’s 180 cm model.

The twelve black Effie Kats dresses to buy

1. Verona Gown in Black, $480

High straight neckline, low open back, back split. The black Effie Kats gown that fits the most women and goes to the most events; buy it first. The Verona guide covers fit and colours.

2. Marbella Gown in Black, $480

The house bestseller: square-neck ruched bustier, cinched waist, closed back. The black gown for support and for a fuller bust. The Marbella guide.

3. Monroe Gown in Black, $490

Strapless with a folded panel at the bodice and a back split. The classic black strapless column. The Monroe guide has the sizing rule.

4. Inaya Gown in Black, $440

Slightly off the shoulder, fitted, split at the back. Bare shoulders with a band to hold them; the black gown for a formal room. The Inaya guide.

5. Havilland Gown in Black, $480

A straight neckline with fine detailing across the bodice and a deep low back with a drape. The refined open-back gown, and the one to choose when the Verona is too plain.

6. Orabella Gown in Black, $580

Long sleeves, high neck, an organic wave of linework through the body. The most covered black gown in the range and the most architectural; winter black tie.

7. Marbella Dress in Black, $390

The bustier neckline under draped detailing, with a seamed waist and a back split, at midi length and $390. The black cocktail dress in the range, for a daytime wedding, the races and a dress code that says cocktail.

8. Primrose Mini in Black, $580

A sculpted black mini, off the shoulder with exaggerated hip detailing, the most structured short dress the house makes. Party season, and the one to wear with the Bowie Blazer.

9. Sienna Mini in Black, $480

A deep V neckline, structured shoulders, a cinched waist and hip detailing: the sharper black mini. A dinner dress and a twenty-first dress at a lower price than the Primrose.

10. Marbella Gown in Black Velvet, $520

The bestseller in black stretch velvet at $520: winter formal, and the black gown that photographs richest under low light. Velvet has less give, so fit it to the bust.

11. Thalia Gown in Black Sequin, $690

All-over black sequins at $690. The black gown for a fortieth, New Year and a red carpet; the entry to the showpieces.

12. Eloise Gown in Black, $880

A straight neckline, a daring open back and a delicate feather trim, in black crepe at $880. The black gown for a gala, and the step into the showpieces.

Black separates

The black separates are the cheapest way into the label and the most worn pieces in it. The Tia Bodysuit at $220 with the Kayson Maxi Skirt at $330 is a floor-length black evening look for $550; the Charleze Bralet with the Charleze Skirt is the two-piece version, and the Olympia Cape at $440 goes over all of it. The bodysuits and skirts guide sets out the system.

Which black dress for which occasion

Black-tie wedding: the Verona and the Inaya. Gala: the Orabella, the velvet Marbella in winter, the Thalia for a party, the Eloise with its feather trim. Cocktail: the Marbella Dress. Dinner and the party circuit: the Primrose and Sienna minis. Work event that runs into the evening: a black bodysuit under the Bowie Blazer with the Soho Pant, which is the brand’s own day-to-night formula.

Sizing black Effie Kats

Same fabric, same chart, four rules. Verona and Havilland: size to the waist and hips. Marbella: size to the bust and up if between, because a bustier holds its shape. Monroe: size to the bust and down if between, because a strapless bodice must grip. Inaya: size to the bust. Velvet: the exact bust measurement, because it has less give than crepe. The size guide has the chart in AU, UK, US and EU.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best black Effie Kats dress?

The Verona Gown in Black at $480: high neck, low open back, and a fit that suits the most women. The Marbella in Black is the choice for a fuller bust.

How much is a black Effie Kats gown?

The core black gowns are $440 to $480 at Luxury Shoes ; the black velvet versions are $490 to $520; the sequinned Thalia is $690.

Does Effie Kats make a black mini dress?

Yes. The Primrose Mini at $580 is the sculpted, off-the-shoulder one; the Sienna Mini at $480 and the Monroe Mini at $400 are the simpler ones.

Does Effie Kats make a black velvet dress?

Yes. The Verona, Marbella, Monroe, Inaya, Carlson and Madison gowns come in Black Velvet at $490 to $520 at Luxury Shoes .

Is a black Effie Kats gown worth buying rather than hiring?

Yes. Black is the colour that is worn most often; a black Verona breaks even against renting at three wears and is the most lendable gown in the range if you later list it.

What do I wear with a black Effie Kats gown?

A slim heeled sandal, one earring statement, hair up for the open-back styles and down for the closed ones, and the black Olympia Cape for the arrival on a cold night.

Read next

The other colours: red, white and ivory, coffee and chocolate and pink and blue; the fabrics: velvet and sequin. Read the best Effie Kats gowns for the full ranking and how to style Effie Kats gowns. Shop every black piece in stock at the Effie Kats collection at Luxury Shoes .