TREND

WHY IT'S TIME FOR TEA DRESSES

By Caroline Ferry, 30 March 2018

OK, it sounds kind of stuffy and conservative but the tea dress is having its fashion moment. What makes it different to last autumn’s most-loved frock? This time around the neckline is covered up, there’s some buttons involved, and the volume is turned right up to the max. Here’s the story behind the trend and how to get on board…

Zadig and Voltaire catwalk SS18 runway green tea dress

Picture: Imaxtree

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The models swooshed down the runway in a sea of green at Zadig & Voltaire's SS18 show, and it was this, the tea dress 2.0, which really got the fashion crowd going. There’s tons of fabric, but you can still see the model's silhouette. It’s really covered up, but look, there’s a flash of leg. A vintage tea dress but turbocharged.

ASOS Lotte wearing green 1930s tea dress

Instagram: @asos_lotte

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Buttoned up and anything but basic, ASOS Insider Lotte has got her hands on one of the best of 'em. Lotte makes the retro fit feel totally SS18 by layering a thin turtleneck underneath (a particularly great styling trick if dressing modestly is a priority for you). She then adds her trusty Dr Martens ankle boots for a splash of 90s nostalgia.

ASOS Mixed Print Deconstructed Midi Tea Dress with Open Back

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If we could draw an exact example of what we mean by the perfect tea dress, it would look exactly like this. It’s got that high collar, volume-aplenty, plus the 30s sleeves that are tucked at the wrist but loose up top. And the cut-out back and addition of pretty polka dots are as SS18 as it gets.

ASOS Deconstructed Midi Tea Dress with Open Back, £42