Trends: the tea dress

8^th July 2012

B Finney

B Finney

8 July 2012

One of my favourite, must-have items that has stuck in all our wardrobes for the past few years is undoubtedly the tea dress. Feminine, elegant and easy to wear, the tea dress seems to be a modernised version of 1940’s structuring. Cinched waistline, modest hemline and varying prints, sleeve lengths and necklines. However, they do all tend to follow that perfectly flattering and demure shape. These little numbers have seen us through all the seasons and here’s how to do it.

Winter:

Go for a dress in rich wintery colours, like a deep scarlet or a jewel green. Wear it with thick black tights and ankle boots, and then add some form of winter warmer. Personally, I’d go for either a black leather jacket or some good faux-fur to brave the outdoors!

Spring:

Knowing our luck, good ole’ Blighty is still likely to be absolutely freezing at this point, but there’s no reason not to whack out some fresh looks for the season. Get yourself a dress in a flattering pastel colour with a springtime print (flowers or baby animals), then accessorise. Spring is all about layering! Blazers, loose shirts or both, paired with simple scarves and tights with either a pair of pumps or brogues. Gorgeous!

Autumn:

Autumn is probably my favourite season because the colours are amazing! Burnt oranges, rich browns and vibrant reds all take over the trend colour palette. Go for a tea dress with a more subtle print than spring, and in a colour to suit the natural environment around you, then add a trench coat, tights with riding boots and if your feeling brave, some form of headwear!

Summer:

Last but not least, we head into summer, the season you can have most fun with. Go for bright colours and cute prints, lots of floral please! Assuming it’s a little warmer, try out a short-sleeved cut. Pair with bare legs, ballet pumps or heels and a cardigan for the cooler evenings.

So get going and embrace your feminine side, the tea dress is a piece that has survived every season beautifully, always coming back in some new style. See what you can do with it! 

Elizabeth Finney