Elegant, Celebrity-Inspired Little Black Dresses Are All I'm Wearing This Summer
Hailey Bieber, Rihanna, and J.Law convinced me.
I used to assume my favorite LBDs had to hibernate from May to September in favor of easier, breezier white dresses. But according to Hailey Bieber, my ultimate style muse, I had it all wrong.
Once I took note of the supermodel's unseasonal little black dress for a May 28 event (courtesy of Saint Laurent, of course), it hit me: She's not the only A-lister to break tradition and stave off white dresses this season. Jennifer Lawrence, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and even Taylor Swift are all actively anti-LWD.
This time last year, white dresses dominated celebrities' closets, as I expected. Fast forward 365 days, and they're erased from my Instagram timeline. Instead, celebrities have discovered near-infinite ways to make LBDs work year-round. The solution? Shorter hems, lightweight fabrics, and plunging necklines. Some stars are even taking the trend a step further and going the matching skirt set route. And just like that, I'm fully convinced to swap my ivory minis for their sultry older sisters.
The more celebrities commit to a warm-weather black dress, the more I'm convinced these looks are too divine to disappear for an entire season. Plus, if anyone can encourage me to ditch my LWDs, it's J.Law. For those feeling fatigued by white dresses, join me in styling summer-ready LBDs this season (and beyond) with the celebrity outfits ahead.
Hailey Bieber's Strapless Black Dress
Hailey Bieber pulls off a summery LBD from Saint Laurent.
Just hours after e.l.f. announced it officially acquired Bieber's eponymous skincare label, Rhode, for $1 billion, the founder celebrated the news in L.A. She looked like a billion bucks in a Saint Laurent mini dress—a fitting selection for the brand ambassador.
Bieber's strapless design was custom (surprise, surprise). But lucky for me, there are similar micro-mini styles on the market. I popped on my highest heels, oval-shaped sunglasses, and voilà: my Bieber-core combo was complete.
Taylor Swift's Little Black Matching Set
Taylor Swift wears a bedazzled Gucci skirt set for dinner with Selena Gomez.
Swift's nights out in New York are some of the year's most stylish soirées—whether or not her celebrity friends are on the guest list. On May 31, the Grammy winner grabbed dinner at Midtown's Monkey Bar with her close pal Selena Gomez. The Rare Beauty founder went with a monochrome Ulla Johnson suit. Then, Swift followed her lead in all-black attire. She wore head-to-toe Gucci, including a bejeweled skirt set. Minutes after the photos dropped, the two-piece sold out. So, I shopped these LBDs instead.
Jennifer Lawrence's Semi-Sheer Black Dress
Jennifer Lawrence taps into the sheer trend with a luxe LBD.
Even though I'm infatuated by the sheer trend, I haven't given it a go myself yet. That's about to change, thanks to Lawrence's recent LBD.
On May 2, the Hunger Games alum was spotted in New York wearing Lemaire's transparent column dress. Complete with short sleeves, sheer viscose, and slits up each leg, the style was practically made with summer weather in mind. She accessorized it with a $30,000 The Row bag, but my trusty Aupen purse will do.
Rihanna's Fringe Black Dress
Rihanna's LBD from Khaite cradles her growing baby bump.
Off the red carpet at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Rihanna ditched French Riviera fashion for a laidback LBD. Her fringe-embellished Khaite dress immediately earned a spot on my summer mood board. Once it was time to style it, I channeled my inner RiRi with naked shoes and Ray-Ban sunglasses.
Miley Cyrus's Ruched Black Dress
Miley Cyrus turns heads in a Parisian-looking LBD in France.
If my younger self could see me now, she'd be glad to learn Cyrus is still my fashion blueprint. My new favorite look of hers? A smocked mini dress from Saint Laurent. Its $6,800 price tag blows my budget out of the water, but I tracked down a similar style from Swift's signature dress brand, Dôen.
Emma Stone's Boho Black Dress
Emma Stone attends the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in a Louis Vuitton LBD.
Once again, Cannes flew by. But multiple moments, including Emma Stone's floor-length Louis Vuitton maxi, still live rent-free in my mind. Fresh from the label's Fall/Winter 2025 collection, her noir number featured tiered ivory lace. The boho-inspired embellishments blended the whimsy of LWDs with the bold allure of LBDs. Stone's exact style isn't available yet, but in the meantime, the below offerings will suffice.
Cynthia Erivo's Long-Sleeve LBD
Cynthia Erivo tried a semi-sheer, boho mini in New York City.
Once or twice every summer, the forecast surprises me with a slight breeze and cooler temperatures. I look in my closet of micro shorts and tank tops, and suddenly I have nothing to wear. Turns out, I just needed a sheer, long-sleeve style à la Cynthia Erivo. She sourced Balmain's Pre-Fall 2025 collection for her belted LBD, but these options from Cinq à Sept and Rebecca Taylor are just as wicked.
Kate Hudson's Black Suiting Set
Kate Hudson got down to business in an off-the-shoulder suiting set.
It seems Swift's not the only A-lister in her skirt set era. On May 30, Kate Hudson attended a Netflix event in a long-sleeve blazer top, plus the coordinating pencil skirt. Her polished two-piece is a summer-friendly option for more elevated events, perhaps a work party or a date night.
Pamela Anderson's Tweed Black Dress
Pamela Anderson channels old Hollywood glamour in a Marc Jacobs LBD.
Who says tweed is reserved for the winter months? Pamela Anderson just proved the charming fabric deserves a spot in my current rotation. The Last Showgirl star paired her Marc Jacobs LBD with sheer tights and pointy pumps, but I plan to summer-ify it with strappy sandals. I might even add a sun hat, if I'm feeling flirty.
