Tea Dresses: The Versatile Summer Buy

Why tea dresses are the perfect summer dress

As a teenager I desperately wished I could own a Kate Moss for Topshop pansy tea dress. Moss's first collection with Topshop was released in 2007, and the item that made waves, almost surprisingly, was the ditsy floral print mini tea dress. Tea dresses are a vintage style, and they were extremely popular in the '30s and '40s. However, Moss's version showed that you can make a tea dress look current through styling. The mini length, her bedhead hair and the large 2000's black shades created an ensemble that looks effortless and cool.

Kate Moss wearing her famous Topshop pansy tea dress in 2007. (grazia.co.uk)

Old-school summer style. Rita Hayworth, in around 1945, wearing a green and white leaf print tea dress with black slingback heels and red lipstick. (huffingtonpost.co.uk)

Since 2007, the tea dress has lost non of its versatility or charm. It can be dressed up or down. It works styled as effortless street wear, for a relaxed and comfortable day out or dressed up for a formal event. It is a feminine and comfortable style that offers a certain level of coverage while still celebrating your shape. You can wear a tea dress in the summer with bare legs and then team it with tights and boots in the cooler months. They also look cute with a denim jacket, a leather jacket or a blazer. With these points in mind, lets look at standout designs within a wide range of prices:

French Connection 'Berniece' eco delphine V-neck midi dress in wild rosa. I absolutely love the purple colour and the delicate sleeves. Also available in sea pink. £75. Click image for link.

Ghost London 'Grace' Satin midi dress in dark green. Available in a wide range of colours. £179. A glamorous and classic option for a formal event. Click image for link.

Nobody's Child 'Alexa' midi with shirring tea dress in pale pink smudge. Available in a range of colours and patterns. £49. This one is striking because it mimics animal print. Click image for link.

CurveWow plus size wrap tea dress in green ditsy. Available in UK sizes 18 to 34/36. £27. Click image for link.

Rixo 'Simone' linen mix midi dress in green. Available in UK sizes 6 to 20. £235. Available in a range of colours (some satin). The lace details add a vintage look. Click image for link.

For an affordable and cute option, the Boohoo polka dot wrap front ruffle tea dress in mustard. Available in UK size 8 to 18. Reduced from £18 to £13.50. Red is currently still available in size 18. Click image for link.

I love the vibrancy of this orange dress. New Look button front mini tea dress in bright orange. Also available in lilac and pink. UK size 6 to 22. £27.99. Click image for link.

Stylish monochrome Diane Von Furstenberg 'Gemita' dress in Shibori Dot Ivory. £424. Click image for link.

Monsoon 'Diana' embellished tea dress. Monsoon have a number of stunning tea dresses but this purple one is my favourite. Available in UK sizes 8 to 24. £175. Click image for link.

Princess Polly The Sting floral print mini dress in blue. Also available in baby blue. £49. Click image for link.

For women who love pink. Oasis premium cape midi tea dress. Also available in orange. Reduced from £149 to £104.30. Click image for link.

This dress is a gorgeous, bright shade of blue. Forever New 'Rowan' linen mini tea dress in vivid cornflower. £75. Click image for link.

Lipsy puff sleeve mini tea dress. Also available in green print. The vibrant florals on white make for really pretty cottagecore vibes. £58. Click image for link.

Another really pretty tea dress with puff sleeves. Ted Baker 'Ledaah' puff sleeve midi dress. Reduced from £195 to £117. Click image for link.

Mango buttoned linen blend midi dress in red. Currently available in UK sizes 14 to 22. £45.99. Click image for link.

Onīrik 'Naomi' dress in cottage blue and pewter green cotton. Also available in pink floral or black floral. £381. Click image for link.

This option is simple but stylish, and the pale fabric is perfect for keeping cool on a hot day. New Look pale blue button front midi dress. Currently available in sizes 12 to 22. Also in pink. £29.99. Click image for link.

Will you be wearing tea dresses this summer? One of my favourite dresses in my wardrobe is a black mini tea dress with a daisy print. It's by a brand called Kiss the Sky and I bought it at Afflecks Palace in Manchester. Let me know in the comments which of the shared tea dresses you like the most. Thanks for viewing, Gina.

Non-Linked Image Sources

https://graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/news/realisation-par-kate-moss-topshop-dress/

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rita-hayworth-style_n_5bc4e833e4b0fed45beb7931