Tea Length Dress

The tea length dress is a formal dress that is neither short nor long. While the style of the top may vary, the length of the dress comes between the bottom of the knee and the calf. This dress is appropriate for tea or garden parties as well as weddings.

While a tea length dress hits more towards the bottom of the calf, a cocktail length dress falls just below the knee. Although today the distinction between a tea length dress and a cocktail dress is muddled. Generally a cocktail dress is a semi-formal dress that is generally worn to an evening affair. It is made out of more ornate material, and can accompany a gentleman in a black suit. Whereas the tea dress is often made from lighter, more casual fabric, and is appropriate for slightly less formal daytime events.

A tea dress is at home in any one of a number of summer events such as teas, graduation parties and weddings. A tea dress while typically thought of as a spring or summer dress can make the transition over to autumn when it is made in darker colors and heavier fabric.

The tradition of the tea dress started in Britain when ladies would meet in the afternoon for tea and talk. As women were dressed in their daytime best for the afternoon affair, this is where the tea dress found its beginning. Coming together for tea was a good place for young people to meet and to get to know each other. Since tea parties were still rather formal affairs, the slightly longer dress was a simple nod to the formality of the occasion.

Still popular today, the tea length dress is the perfect dress for any formal daytime gathering.