cool woman in a black dress The Hollies The Hollies Long Cool Woman

Sure, you can invest in Eileen Fisher, but Everlane can do pretty well, too

If you want to know what folks were wearing on a regular day, check out TVs from the era that followed characters living average (if entertaining) lives, like Friends, Clarissa Explains It All, Seinfeld or Dawsons Creek.

8 Little Black Dresses Getty Images Yes, this was the era of Princess Diana's revenge dress

This black dress features a smooth and straight line with spaghetti straps

As Grace Bleasdale and Keir Johnston prepared for their Scotland nuptials, the mother-of-the-bride, Cecilia Bleasdale, texted her daughter an image of the dress, saying she planned on wearing it at the festivities

Or a studded purse strap