The tea length skirt
December 9th 2010 02:14
When Marc Jacobs featured tea length dresses and skirts in his Autumn/Winter 2010 collection for Louis Vuitton earlier this year, it didn't take long for fashion writers to start calling tea length "the hemline of the moment." Nevertheless, it took several months for this 50s-inspired, ultra-ladylike style to become a favourite among the red carpet set. The full skirt may be a tad too sedate for some, but when paired with a fitted top and classic heels it can really evoke a sense of old-world elegance.
For a dress or skirt to qualify as tea length, it needs to fall somewhere below the knee, but above the bottom of the calf. The full, slightly flared skirt completes the look. It's a great style for daytime events such as weddings (particularly if the dress or skirt is floral, or otherwise brightly coloured) and in the cooler months is ideal for work (but in a darker, more understated fabric).
Lately, fashion-forward celebrities like Alexa Chung have been wearing tea length skirts and dresses to just about any kind of event, including those held in the evening - showing that, as always, fashion rules are made to be broken.
Unless your legs are already very long, you'll find that the tea length skirt will be most flattering with heels. And put that flowing top away for now - a close-fitting upper half is necessary to keep your figure from looking swamped, and to emphasise the flared silhouette of the skirt. Otherwise, you can interpret this particular style any way you choose!
One of many gorgeous tea length dresses from the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2010 RTW collection by Marc Jacobs
For a dress or skirt to qualify as tea length, it needs to fall somewhere below the knee, but above the bottom of the calf. The full, slightly flared skirt completes the look. It's a great style for daytime events such as weddings (particularly if the dress or skirt is floral, or otherwise brightly coloured) and in the cooler months is ideal for work (but in a darker, more understated fabric).
Lately, fashion-forward celebrities like Alexa Chung have been wearing tea length skirts and dresses to just about any kind of event, including those held in the evening - showing that, as always, fashion rules are made to be broken.
Camilla Belle, Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Alexa Chung, all wearing tea length skirts in dark fabrics (click to enlarge)
Sofia Vergara and Kirsten Dunst, both in tea length dresses by Louis Vuitton
Unless your legs are already very long, you'll find that the tea length skirt will be most flattering with heels. And put that flowing top away for now - a close-fitting upper half is necessary to keep your figure from looking swamped, and to emphasise the flared silhouette of the skirt. Otherwise, you can interpret this particular style any way you choose!
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