What Is A Midi Dress & How Do You Style It?

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While mini dresses and maxi dresses are often fan favorites, a mid-length dress is one that shouldn’t be overlooked!

Midi dresses are popular all over the world. 

Women in Saudi Arabia wear midi dresses to conform to more conservative dress standards, but they are also seen worn in locations where smart-casual is more the norm such as here in the United States. 

They are also incredibly popular for tropical vacation wear when heading to places such as the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, etc. 

But what exactly is a midi dress? Let’s go over that below. 

A woman in a red midi dress.

What is a midi dress?

A midi dress is a dress that falls a couple of inches below the knee or a few inches above the knee, just like a midi skirt.

Your mid-calf is often the widest part of your leg. When the hem of your dress falls dead center on your leg it can be unflattering, especially for petite girls.

Going to an event and not sure if it’s formal or casual? A midi dress is the perfect dress. 

Sometimes a mini dress is inappropriate and a long dress is too formal. This is where midi dresses shine – they are the perfect in-between.

Shop Blue Midi Dress

Midi Dress Styles

A midi dress is a type of dress that works for virtually any season and occasion, depending on the style you choose. 

Whether you prefer a solid color, a small pattern, or something bold and flashy, there are plenty of midi dresses to choose from.  

Additionally, they come in all different styles such as short sleeve, off-shoulder, bodycon, etc.

The only style guidelines you really need to follow when midi dress shopping is what setting you’re wearing your new dress for. 

A bodycon midi dress with a side slit is sexy and would be perfect for a date night or night out with the girls. 

Alternatively, a floral midi dress with ruffle details would be great for a daytime barbeque or baby shower. 

For a formal event, chiffon, satin, and lace are great options whereas for a more casual event, a cotton, linen, or denim dress is a great choice. 

With midi dresses available in so many various materials, you’re sure to find one that works for the occasion. 

Additionally, it’s important to consider the weather! While most midi dresses will give you the same amount of coverage, the fabric will also play a huge role. 

Below we’ll check out some currently popular options for each season.

Shop Long Sleeve Midi Dress

How To Style Winter & Fall Midi Dresses

Midi dresses for the cooler months are typically made of thicker fabrics. 

Sweater, knit, and ribbed styles are what you’ll likely find when searching for winter midi length dresses. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find one that isn’t still sexy.

If you’re looking for a sexier style, look for one in a bodycon style with ribbing and/or a leg slit.

These styles will still give plenty of coverage while showing off your curves.

Leg slits on midi dresses are especially flattering for shorter women as it helps keep the looking from being choppy. I think it’s safe to say that no one desires the stumpy look when getting dressed!

When styling your dress for the cooler months, booties are a perfect choice for shoes.

I can tell you from personal experience, this pair is great. They’re comfortable, come in several colors, and the heel is comfortable if you plan to be on your feet for hours at a time.

Shop Long Sleeve Midi Dress

Shop Midi Cocktail Dress

How To Style Spring Midi Dresses

Spring midis tend to come in many more colors, prints, and fabrics than winter midis.

Florals, beautiful prints, and puff-shoulder styles are just some of the styles you’ll find available for the warmer months.

Shop Polka Dot Midi Dress

Shop Elegant Midi Dress

Since spring can still be chilly the best way to be prepared is with a jacket for layering. 

A denim jacket is great for more casual looks whereas a chic leather jacket can work for dressier occasions.

Here are a few jackets that stay in style year after year.

Shop Moto Jacket

Shop Denim Jacket

How To Style Summer Midi Dresses

Midi dresses are great for that breezy summer look, with white dresses being the perfect base for fun accessories and shoes. 

A womens white midi dress, pink strappy heels, colorful earrings, and a tan clutch purse.

Shop White Midi Dress | Shop Pink Heels | Shop Colorful Earrings | Shop Clutch Purse

Try pairing a white midi dress with a pair of bright strappy sandals for the perfect combination of flirty and fun, like above. 

Like spring midi dresses, summer midi dresses also come in vibrant colors and prints as well as spaghetti strap, backless, and off-shoulder styles.

Unlike styling a dress for spring, you probably won’t need anything to layer over top of your summer picks, so you can just let your dress do all the talking.

Both for summer and spring, wedges are a great shoe choice.

I love these wedges because the color is the perfect neutral (I have the “khaki” color and wear them with everything), and they’re very comfortable.

Additionally, they don’t have a strap around the ankle which makes them easy to style with pants when the weather gets cooler, too.

For jewelry, you can opt for your everyday earrings or you can do something a bit more seasonal like this rattan style set.

Here are some of our current favorite midi dresses!

Shop Floral Midi Dress

Shop Cutout Color Block Dress

How To Style A Midi Dress For Work

If you want to wear a midi dress to the office, there are plenty of ways to do so.

A womens work outfit idea including a plaid blazer, midi dress, heels, hoop earrings, and a tote purse.

Shop Pencil Midi Dress | Shop Heels | Shop Tote Bag | Shop Blazer | Shop Earrings

The first and most popular option is to layer a blazer over your dress. This blazer is my absolute favorite and is perfect for professional settings.

It comes in many colors, fits true to size, and is of excellent quality.

Finish off this looks with a great pair of pumps, statement earrings, and a chic tote bag and you’re good to go.

How to pick the right midi dress

The right midi dress will depend on your body type and shape, personal style preferences, and the overall look you’re going for. 

There are certain silhouettes that will work better for different shapes. 

For example, a midi dress with a tie waist is a good option for someone who has a straight figure as it will help to will help give more shape. 

A bodycon midi dress will accentuate your curves while a smocked style will offer more movement and comfort. 

Midi wrap dresses are typically universally flattering.

Shop Boho Midi Dress With Sleeves

Here are a few tips for choosing/styling a midi dress:

  • Pick a midi dress that works for your height

Remember, you never want your midi dress to fall right at knee length.

Look for one that is just a bit longer if you’re tall or just a bit shorter if you’re a shorter gal. 

A few inches can make the world of a difference. The goal is to avoid the awkward length that makes your outfit choppy.

  • Choose a style that flatters your shape

Midi dresses, like other articles of clothing, come in different styles. If you have a super straight figure, look for a midi with a waist-cinching belt to give your body shape.

Are your legs your favorite body part to show off? A midi dress with a leg slit is a great way to show them off!

  • Focus on fabrics

Although midi dresses work for different seasons, it’s important to pay attention to the fabrics.

Silky styles work best for formal events while knits and tend to work for more casual occasions.

  • Be mindful of what’s already in your closet

Midi dresses are great for layering.

You probably already have a great denim or moto jacket sitting in your closet. Pairing your midi dress with something you already have will save time and money.

  • Wear the right shoes

The hardest part of styling a midi dress is pairing it with the right shoes.

As noted earlier, your height will definitely come into play here. Experiment with different shoe styles to see which are the best shoes for your outfit.

  • Tighter prints/solids are your midi best friend

Choose a midi dress with a little bit of pattern (like a small floral pattern) or solid colors.

It helps to create the illusion of a longer/leaner silhouette instead of short and boxy.

If you’re looking for a midi dress and you’re on a tight timeframe, Amazon has some of the best midi dresses!

Bonus: Most of them are super affordable. Just make sure you check the reviews, especially the ones with images.

Shop One Shoulder Dress

FAQs

What is the difference between a maxi and a midi dress?

The length of a maxi dress is longer. A maxi dress will fall somewhere from the ankle bone down.

Are midi dresses flattering?

Yes. As mentioned above, midi dresses come in many different cuts and styles, so what works for one person may not work for the next.

If you take your shape and height into consideration, a midi dress can be a very flattering style.

How long is a midi dress in inches?

There is no universal rule for how long a midi dress should be and actually, each brand will fit differently.

The only general rules for a midi dress are that they are longer than a mini dress, shorter than a maxi dress, and fall either lightly below or slightly above the knee.

What shoes do I wear with a midi dress?

Midi dresses are great for various seasons and they go well with several shoe styles for each.

You can wear heels, wedges, flats, flip flops, booties, and even sneakers with a midi dress.

What shoes do you wear with a midi dress in the winter? 

Booties tend to look best, but your height will also come into play with this styling option.

Lower shaft booties may work for taller women, but for shorter girls, it’s usually more flattering to find booties that help elongate the legs rather than cut them off right at the ankle.

Formal midi dresses are usually worn for weddings and special occasions so they tend to work best with dressier shoes such as ankle-strap/strappy heels or pumps.

The wonderful thing about styling spring/summer midi dresses is that there are so many options when it comes to shoes.

Wedges, flats, mules, and high-heel sandals all work well with spring and summer midi dresses.

Is a midi dress formal?

A midi dress can be worn for formal occasions, but as you can see from the examples above it can also be styled casually.

A good jacket paired with a pair of statement heels and a cute bag can easily take your dress from day to night.

How do you wear a midi dress without looking frumpy?

Taking your shape and height into consideration is again the best way to choose your dress.

A tie-waist dress helps to create shape if you have a straight figure while a looser, flowy style can help a dress be less form-fitting if you have curves.

Conclusion

If you’re in the market for some new dresses, a midi dress is a style that can work for many occasions. 

They work for petite women and tall women and come in various materials, fabrics, colors, and patterns. 

The most important factor when choosing your midi dress is your height as you want to make sure that the dress falls just under or just above the knee.

With so many midi dress lengths available, you’re bound to find one that suits your body shape, body type, and personal style preference. 

That’s it for this post on midi dresses. Hopefully, you found something you love and have a better idea of how you want to style your next midi dress outfit.

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