How Long Is a Tea Length Dress

Wondering, "How long is a tea length dress?" You're probably not alone. The name itself does not suggest a specific length, as is the case with a street length dress. Also, who should wear tea length dresses?

A tea length dress hits right at the mid-calf. They're longer than street length dresses and not as short as those that touch just above the knee. They are often A-line in style. Necklines and sleeve lengths can vary greatly. There are scoop-necks, v-necks, and more. Also, there are tea length dresses with no sleeves, short sleeves, or even three-quarter sleeves.

Tea length dresses are a vintage style that can be worn to work, to a party, or in a wedding. They saw their heyday between the late 19th century and the mid-20th century, but they are still around and functional today. Emily Post called the tea length dress a step between a wrapper and a ball dress in her book Etiquette in 1922. She goes on to state that the dress is not meant to be worn outside of the house. Instead, it was meant to be worn while a woman was dining with her own family, as it was not formal enough to be worn outdoors, even with the train and long, flowing sleeves.

Times changed and the dresses became acceptable for other events. They also became shorter and lost a lot of the ornate detailing in lieu of simpler styles. Sometimes the cocktail dress and tea length dress terms are used interchangeably. The difference lies in the material: Tea length dresses are lighter weight and meant for daytime events. Cocktail dresses, by contrast, are much more elaborate and meant for nighttime semi-formal gatherings. It's a popular bridesmaids' dress length. However, tea length dresses are sometimes used not just as bridesmaid dresses, but as wedding dresses, especially in weddings that occur before 6:00 PM.

Unless you're especially tall, you may want to give the illusion of additional height to counteract the potential shortening effects of a tea length dress. You don't need a pair of six inch stilettos to do it; a small to medium heel height will be beautiful. Try pumps or sandals with two-to-three-inch heels.

If you want to channel retro starlets, wear your tea length dress with your hair half up or in a glamorous chignon and don't forget the red lipstick and pearls. If you'd like to look classy without going over the top with the hair, makeup, and jewelry from yesteryear, try using understated jewelry items, such as a thin gold or silver pendant, a dainty bracelet, and small hoop earrings. Add your modern hair and makeup preferences and you're still elegant, feminine, but also look like yourself (assuming your signature look doesn't include red lipstick a la Gwen Stefani).

Since tea length dresses come in various shades, weights, and cuts, you can wear them during almost any season. You may want to skip over winter since they don't lend themselves well to tall, chunky boots and a portion of your leg would be bare to the cold. Floral prints are popular tea length dress picks, mostly worn during the warmer months of the year.

Short girls may want to opt for a street length dress instead. A street length dress hits just below the knee instead of mid-calf, which reveals a little bit more leg while remaining modest but will also elongate the body more than a tea length dress would.

The answer to, "How long is a tea length dress?" is: Almost perfect! It's a modest length that generally features a feminine, bouncy skirt. You can wear them almost all year. If you want to feel like a Hollywood starlet from decades ago, invest in a tea length dress and wear it when the mood strikes--whether you're going to work, on a date, or to a party.

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