The black maxi dress is a dress with no bounds. Walking the dog? Throw on your jersey tent dress over your pyjamas and you're ready for a five-minute stroll. Are you gathering your friends for a much-needed Friday happy hour? Your long, slinky new shirtdress will effortlessly transition from the office to the bar. Are you attending your fourth wedding of the summer? Put on your gauzy black go-to and you'll turn heads as usual.

We set out to find the best of the long, lengthy black dresses from our favourite stores, sampling every style echelon from beach-friendly boho to regal, formal, and glitzy.

We've got your head-to-toe black look in one of the slides ahead, no matter where you're going this summer — whether it's around the block, out on the town, or out of town. Click through to find your black dress and become the summer's long, cool woman.

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