Tea dresses for tea

What is a tea dress?

A light-weight, feminine, spring/summer dress which usually has short capped sleeves and a floral pattern.

Historically tea dresses, or tea gowns, were popular attire for receiving guests at home or going to see an intimate friend. Traditional tea dresses of the late 19th to early 20th centuries featured long flowing sleeves and made of delicate materials.

These dresses were particularly popular for socialites in the UK for "high tea". This was back in the day when there was a huge gap in between breakfast and dinner (which was served at 8 pm), and lunch was only a light meal. Growling stomachs led to the creation of "high tea" by Lady Anna Maria Stanhope, the Duchess of Bedford, in 1841. She liked tea, so did everyone else and hence the perfect meal of high tea in the late afternoon began.

Meanwhile, I'm eyeing off tea dresses at the moment. Especially this Piper Lane dress.



Put on a cream cardigan and get the kettle on...