seeing that black dress hit the floor Chris Young Dress that broke the internet:

Long silky dresses, often trimmed in lace, were popularized by the edgiest celebs of the day, such as Drew Barrymore and Courtney Love (the latter of whom practically spent the entire decade wearing little more than a silky slip)

Black tie should technically mean that the event starts after 6PM and is a synonym for get your fancy on. Typically, floor-lengths gowns are worn but with the casualization of clothing, I think a fancy cocktail dress in tea-length is totally appropriate

Black Chiffon Gown (under $60

They also have a timeless appeal with a horse bit meant to mimic what you see in mens loafers

Offer a dress image (not from us) to customize, OEM, etc

You can even use blue as an accent color in a brown room