Last Updated on February 1, 2024 by Eve Dawes
I’m swapping out my minis for these chic tea dresses in 2024
Tea length dresses are back in style for 2024 as elegant, ladylike fashion dominates 2024. Tea length dresses aren’t just for weddings, afternoon tea parties, garden parties, formal dresses and brides, these A-Line AKA fit and flare styles are here for everyday too. Say goodbye to micro minis and think timeless, classic, logo free styles that won’t date. I’m trading in my short hem-lines for chic floral and white tea-length dresses and skirts that go perfectly with the slingback heel trend of 2024. Even celebrities at the Golden Globe ditched their floor-length gowns for tea-length dresses on the red carpet. However, it’s not the easiest hemline and can quickly turn frumpy. Keep reading for the most flattering ideas for how to style them and the best styles to slip into this season.
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Are tea-length dresses in style for 2024
Tea length dresses are a classic but right now they’re very much on trend for 2024 too. Celebrities spotted wearing them include “Priscilla” star Cailee Spaeny in a white, floral-printed strapless Miu Miu tea length formal dress, Rosamund Pike in a black Christian Dior Haute Couture midi dress, and Brie Larson in a pretty lavender Prada dress.
It’s not just celebrities and stylists that have jumped onto this trend but it was all over the Spring 2024 runway trends including Zimmermann Resort RTW, Dior and Christian Siriano.
Tea length dresses for weddings | Brides and guests
Tea length dresses are popular for weddings as they’re modest, elegant and work for most dress codes. This pink midi dress from Staud is one of my favorites and would be beautiful for a Spring or Summer wedding guest dress.
The trend this year though isn’t just to save them for weddings, garden parties and afternoon tea but for everyday wear as well.
Although, if you’re looking for a bridal tea length dress for your wedding rehearsal dinner or even your wedding, this white Bronx and Banco midi is perfection. The boned bodice and sequin, pearl and bead embellished mesh fabric is giving me total princess vibes.
Tea length dresses for everyday
A simple linen, silk, denim or leather midi dress looks right on trend for 2024. If you’re wanting to stick to the more feminine and elegant vibe for 2024, look for styles like this black silk corset dress by Zimmermann. It’s timeless and one that you can wear year after year and keep looking fresh by how you style it.
For 2024, I’d style it with 80’s style gold earrings like these teardrop style ones, a structured top handle bag and slingback heels.
How to style tea length dresses
There are so many ways to wear this dress style and a lot depends on the material you have. Obviously a black leather midi is going to get styled a lot differently to the sparkly white Bronx and Banco dress above. Here’s a few outfit ideas and ways to style and accessorize your tea-length dresses in 2024.
What shoes to wear with tea dresses
Unless you’re really tall, heels tend to look the best and be the most flattering with this style of dress or skirt. Especially if you have muscular calves like I do.
It hits her leg in an unequivocally unflattering place–somewhere between floor length and tea length–and instantly makes her look shorter, stumpier, and decidedly more grandmother-like.
Which is why I’m styling mine with the highest of heels.
For a classic look style them with slingback or kitten heels, for work or a timeless look stiletto pumps are perfect. For a more glam look style your ankle-grazing hemline with strappy high heel sandals or metallic heels to make them the focal point.
If you can pull it off, ballet pumps also look ever so chic with this style.
How to style your hair with tea-length dresses
To avoid looking like you’re wearing a 1940’s or 50’s costume avoid dated hairstyles or retro styles from that era. A sleek bun or chignon, glam waves or sleek straight hair tends to work the best with this style.
How to accessorize
The most on trend jewelry for 2024 is big chunky gold earrings, necklaces and bracelets which will keep this look current.
For an old money aesthetic which is another 2024 fashion trend think pearl necklaces and bracelets or a diamond tennis bracelet. For full on glam look for statement pieces like the 38-carat diamond necklace and round diamond earrings by Kwiat that Brie Larson styled hers with.
The best tea length dresses to wear in 2024
Don’t feel limited to tea length dresses for weddings, afternoon tea and more formal looks by this trend. It can be anything from ultra-feminine Zimmermann broderie anglaise white tea length dresses to sexy leather and more relaxed looks.
- The best floral taffeta dress: Sachin and Babi and Zimmermann.
- Best statement making tea-length dress: Dolce & Gabbana.
- Best designer tea length dress: Oscar De La Renta.
- Best tea length dress for wedding guest: Staud
- Best bridal tea length dress: Bronx and Banco.
- Best short wedding dress on a budget: Oh Polly
- Best designer white tea length dress: Caroline Herrera
- Best for budget under $100: Lulus.
- Most versatile black tea length dress: Free People
- Best pink tea length dress for going out: Sachin and Babi.
The designers hitting it out the park for me this year for this trend are Staud, Zimmermann and Dior. If I had the budget for them, they’d all be making their way to my closet.
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