Frequently Asked Questions

What is a midi dress?

A dress that stops at mid-calf. Vocabulary.com defines midi as women's clothing with a hemline at mid-calf, and Aza Fashions' length guide says a midi falls anywhere between the knee and the ankle, naming office wear, brunch, daytime parties and weddings among its best occasions. Asking what is a midi dress? It's the length that covers more than a mini without sweeping the floor like a maxi. The Plus Size Ruffle White style and the off-shoulder ruffle styles in pink and white are all described with a mid-calf hem.

How long is a midi dress?

Somewhere between your knee and your ankle. Aza Fashions puts the midi dress length anywhere in that range, and Vocabulary.com pins the classic midi hemline on women's clothing at mid-calf, so midi skirt length follows the same rule. So what length is a midi dress on a real body? Anything from a little below the knee to the top of the ankle counts. Here, the Off The Shoulder Red Ruffle style hugs to a mid-calf length, while the Delicate Diva and the Loren light pink sit at the knee end of the range.

What's the difference between a midi and a maxi dress?

About a shin's worth of fabric. Aza Fashions' guide explains that a midi falls anywhere between the knee and the ankle, while a maxi has a floor-length hemline that typically falls to the ankle or grazes the ground, and it lists office wear, brunch and daytime parties for the midi and beach outings and evening parties for the maxi. That's midi vs maxi dress settled: pick midi when you want to move freely, like in the Siren Flare or the Pearl Strap styles, and head to maxi when the hem should sweep.

What should I wear to a christening?

Something pretty, modest and daytime-friendly. Jovani's christening guide calls it a semi-formal daytime occasion, says covered shoulders are generally expected, with a wrap or light jacket as an easy fix, recommends a midi or knee-length hem, and suggests soft pastels while avoiding white and ivory, since the baby may be in a white gown. So for anyone deciding what to wear to a christening or what to wear to a baptism, the Loren light pink and mint green styles bring long sleeves in soft shades, and the pink floral mesh style adds long mesh sleeves with full lining.

What should I wear to church?

Covered, comfortable and still you. Böhme's church style guide says the common thread is modesty and respect for the space, recommends hemlines at or below the knee, calls a midi one of the most versatile things to wear, suggests keeping shoulders covered or easily covered with a layer, and favors fabrics that drape rather than cling, with soft florals for spring and summer. So for what to wear to church, the Spring Love chiffon midis in blue, black and red bring a floral-dot print and butterfly sleeves in a woven fabric that floats rather than hugs.

What is chiffon?

The lightweight, see-through fabric behind every floaty dress. Wikipedia describes chiffon as a lightweight, balanced plain-woven sheer fabric, notes it can be made from natural or synthetic fibers, from the original silk to nylon and polyester, says the name comes from the French word chiffe for cloth or rag, and adds that its crepe yarns give it a slightly rough feel. So what is chiffon on a midi? Movement. The Spring Love styles use lightweight, non-stretch woven chiffon with ruffle butterfly sleeves.

What is a cap sleeve?

A short sleeve that sits on the shoulder. Dictionary.com defines a cap sleeve as a short sleeve designed to cover the shoulder and the top of the arm, with little or no extension under the arm. That's what is a cap sleeve in one line, and it's a light way to add a sleeve without committing to a full one. The Loren Runway striped bandage styles in black, white and royal blue pair off-shoulder cap sleeves with an empire waist and striped bandage fabric.

Midi Dresses

Not too short, not too long, and never boring. Landing somewhere between the knee and the ankle, a midi dress can go to the office drinks, the christening, the cocktail bar and the dinner after without a single outfit change. That's the whole appeal, and this edit leans into it.

Browsing midi dresses for women who want a little shape? Most styles here are cut close to the body, from ruched long sleeve styles to off-shoulder ruffles, with a breezy chiffon option for warmer days. In this edit, every women's midi dress was picked to look polished on its own, so all you add is shoes, and each midi length dress keeps the hem somewhere you can walk, sit and dance in.

Long sleeves, short sleeves and cap sleeves

Sleeves change everything. In the long sleeve midi dress line-up, the Loren styles in hot red, mint green and light pink bring cascading ruching, an elastic waist and a square neckline, while the elastic mesh styles in leopard, nude, black and blue add draped mesh and a nipped waist. Want a midi dress with sleeves and a bit of drama? The Siren Flare adds a flounce hem, and its long sleeves are described as adding elegance for cooler evenings.

Prefer prints? Among the midi dresses for women with sleeves, the pink floral mesh style comes fully lined with long mesh sleeves and a square collar neckline, and the black floral version is described as a flattering party or cocktail dress. Going lighter? As a short sleeve midi dress, the Spring Love chiffon styles flutter with ruffle butterfly sleeves, and for a midi dress with cap sleeves, the Loren Runway striped bandage styles in black, white and royal blue pair off-shoulder cap sleeves with an empire waist.

Cocktail, formal and evening

Invite in hand? Here, every midi cocktail dress was cut to make an entrance: the Ruffle Bow styles in navy and orange drape a dramatic bow down one long sleeve, with a center back slit on the orange one. That makes either one a midi cocktail dress with sleeves for cooler nights. The Backless Rhinestone Strap styles in black, white and brown go bare at the back with rhinestone straps, and the black one is pitched as a black-tie wedding guest look.

Need a midi formal dress? The Midnight In London styles pair an off-shoulder asymmetric sleeve with a ruffle hem, and one is even named the Formal Midi. As a formal midi dress with a sculptural edge, the dark green cut-out style pairs braided cut-outs with a draped tail, and it's described as a sophisticated formal-event look. For a long sleeve formal midi dress, the Siren Flare in red keeps the sleeves on and the hem flouncy.

Evening plans? As a midi evening dress, the Pearl Strap styles in black and white bring a deep V, built-in bra cups and pearl spaghetti straps, and the Midnight Allure adds shimmering mesh sleeves with a subtle back slit. Want an elegant midi dress with a little sass? The Ruffle Shoulders Turtleneck in green and black is described as adding class and sass, and as a corset midi dress, the Ruffles Shoulders corset styles in blue, white and black shape the bodice under playful ruffled shoulders.

Florals, chiffon and casual days

Florals, but make them fun. In the floral midi dress line-up, the Spring Love styles in blue, black and red lead with a floral-dot print and ruffle butterfly sleeves, and the floral mesh styles bring the print into long sleeve territory. Want a floral print midi dress with a fitted line? The black floral elastic style has a nipped waist and cascading ruching.

Craving something softer? As a chiffon dress, the Spring Love midi uses lightweight, non-stretch woven chiffon and is described as a breezy pick for road trips and warm-weather days, which makes it the flowy midi dress and the summer midi dress of the edit. For a casual midi dress, the Sunshine drawstring style is described as going from brunch to evening cocktails, and the Loren in hot red works formal or casual.

Pink, blue, green and more

Pick your color. As a pink midi dress, the Loren light pink, the off-shoulder pink ruffle and the pink floral mesh style lead, and for a blue midi dress, there's the Spring Love blue, the elastic mesh blue and the Ruffles Shoulders corset in blue. As a navy midi dress, the Ruffle Bow navy style brings the bow sleeve, and for a green midi dress, the Loren mint green, the green turtleneck and the dark green cut-out style all qualify.

Earthy or bright? As a brown midi dress, the Backless Rhinestone Strap brown style lists graduations, cocktails and special events, and as a yellow midi dress, the Sunshine drawstring comes in mustard yellow with an adjustable fit. Want denim? As a denim midi dress, the long sleeve knitted stretch-denim style comes in a dark navy wash with a zip detail.

Fall, winter and plus size

Cold snap? As a fall midi dress, the long sleeve Loren and elastic mesh styles cover the arms without losing the shape, and as a winter midi dress, the Siren Flare and the floral mesh styles keep long sleeves on for the darker months. Shopping plus size midi dresses? The white ruffle style runs XS to 4XL with a mid-calf hem, the black ruched mesh style goes up to 3XL, and the ripped denim belted style runs S to 5XL.

Want more? Shorter hems live in mini dresses, floor-length in maxi dresses, and the tightest fits in bodycon dresses. Finish it with high heels and a handbag.