womens black cotton dress Plus Size Solid Linen Midi for Women night dressing with ease. Kenneth Cole Women's Sleeveless Trapeze

This cotton mini dress from Anthropologie looks simple enough from the front, but features a slim cut-out at the back for added flair

The decade saw a wide range of aesthetics come into style, including grunge, sleek minimalism, hip-hop streetwear (hello, The North Face Nupste puffer), goth and even the beginnings of Y2Ks metallics obsession

The front is designed to be longer than the back, with pleated tulle at the back creating a fuller look, though the pleats are not visible from the front

The most useful principle is definition at the waist either through the dress's own construction (a fitted bodice, smocked waist, or tie waist) or through how you wear it (belted, tucked, or layered with a fitted outer piece)