<p>I thought this was going to be easy, but after a weekend at three different malls I am convinced that no store near me carries a decent black dress. D needs this for orchestra; the instructions from the orchestra director were simply a black dress, not sleeveless. After our marathon shopping weekend, the following criteria would also be desirable: not skimpy, or clingy, or made out of tacky thin polyester, no sequins or feathers or plastic diamond-like beads . . . Since D has gone back to school, our best option would be to find something to purchase online. Anyone have any suggestions? (D is a size 10-12, and can wear either regular or tall sizes.)</p>
<p>Look on Bluefly.</p>
<p>If she likes sporty fabrics, and a simple, comfortable fit try titlenine.com
Although their black is more like dark gray.</p>
<p>My favorite black dress came from Travelsmith.com - neither skimpy, clingy, thin, feathered, or beaded. Also, it’s washable and packable. Very utilitarian, and nice enough to go anywhere.</p>
<p>White House/Black Market
JCrew</p>
<p>Sometimes I have good luck at Marshall’s, or TJ Maxx, but that’s not online.</p>
<p>Nordstrom’s carries a ton of dresses on their website, and you can shop by color and size.
(I’m looking for a long black dress, not too revealing, size 4, for a short skinny person. Cello-play-ability would be a plus. Let me know if you run across something good.)</p>
<p>Nordstrom has a whole black dress category online.</p>
<p>We always buy Nordstroms on line and Penney’s. For the better cut for what you are looking for, try day dreses [Women’s</a> Apparel - Day Dresses - Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/C/6007554/0~2376788~6002242~6007533~6007554?mediumthumbnail=Y&Category=6007554&viewAll=1]Women’s”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/C/6007554/0~2376788~6002242~6007533~6007554?mediumthumbnail=Y&Category=6007554&viewAll=1)</p>
<p>Travelsmith, Travelsmith, Travelsmith.</p>
<p>(Travelsmith)</p>
<p>For the cellist, too.</p>
<p>Garnet Hill has a great looking black knit dress for $68: [Scoop-Neck</a> Knit Dress - Garnet Hill](<a href=“http://www.garnethill.com/jump.jsp?itemID=18341&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C4477%2C7488%2C7492&iProductID=18341]Scoop-Neck”>http://www.garnethill.com/jump.jsp?itemID=18341&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C4477%2C7488%2C7492&iProductID=18341) Their clothes are very good quality.</p>
<p>Or, if you ordered this Travelsmith style dress from Lands End, you could order two sizes and return the one you didn’t want to Sears. (It is very convenient to return Lands End orders to Sears.)
[Women’s</a> Solid 3/4-sleeve Necessary Knit Balletneck Dress from Lands’ End](<a href=“http://www.landsend.com/pp/Solid34sleeveNecessaryKnitBalletneckDress~200367_59.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::BLA&CM_MERCH=IDX_00002__0000000130&origin=index]Women’s”>http://www.landsend.com/pp/Solid34sleeveNecessaryKnitBalletneckDress~200367_59.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::BLA&CM_MERCH=IDX_00002__0000000130&origin=index)</p>
<p>Try this for performers <a href=“http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:YH6U5kBI7vcJ:www.concertdress.com/+black+orchestra+dress&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari[/url]”>http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:YH6U5kBI7vcJ:www.concertdress.com/+black+orchestra+dress&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari</a></p>
<p>That Lands End dress is nice. Here’s the code for free shipping until Jan 19.
At checkout, on the Billing Information page, go to the section labeled “Promotion Code” (above the credit card payment box) and manually enter the Promotion Code and PIN.</p>
<p>Enter the Promotion Code JANOUTERWEAR and the PIN 1218 in the space provided.</p>
<p>I found this link on an old thread</p>
<p>[Concert</a> Black: Black Clothing for the Performing Musician](<a href=“http://www.concertblack.com/]Concert”>http://www.concertblack.com/)</p>
<p>kajon - this website only offers separates. OP, does it have to be a dress?</p>
<p>OP, does the dress need to be long (floor length)?</p>
<p>how 'bout this one: [short-sleeve</a> “black dress” - Google Product Search](<a href=“short-sleeve "black dress" - Google Shopping”>short-sleeve "black dress" - Google Shopping)</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the replies. I will have to check with D about the sporty material. I really like the title nine dresses though and might have to order one or two even if they would not be dressy enough for the orchestra. D believes that it does have to be a dress (although why the director would object to a skirt and blouse set, I don’t know–maybe just to keep things simple). It does not have to be floor length.</p>
<p>if the sporty material is cotton, the black dress may fade quite a bit with repeated washings.</p>
<p>I would go with a musician’s black dress, long sleeved or with a jacket. That way, she will be good to go for any music group she plays for. Plus the dresses are made of the kind of material that you can pack in the suitcase when you are on tour and will still look great after you hang it up in a damp bathroom.</p>