What is a Midi Dress?
A midi dress is defined by having a hemline above the ankle but below the knee. When choosing a dress of this style, fashion know-how dictates that you should choose one where the hem falls above or below the mid-calf line.
The most practical of all dresses, the midi dress shows a little bit of leg, but is generally more flattering than a mini and more practical than a maxi dress. The 'fit and forget' of dress styles, you won't be yanking it down repeatedly, as you probably would with a short style, and you won't find yourself tripping over the hem or dragging it in the dirt, as sometimes happens with full-length dresses.
Why We Love the Midi Dress
Especially well-suited to taller women, the midi dress can be styled to suit mortals with average and petite silhouettes too (read on to find out why our Megan dress is perfect for petite women as well).
Flattering and feminine, yet easy to wear and practical for everyday life, the midi dress is a must-have for a contemporary woman's wardrobe. We particularly love midi styles with subtle side splits, which show a bit of lower leg and facilitate movement, without making us self-conscious when out and about.
If you've been living in jeans and joggers all winter, now is the time to rediscover the dress. Yes, the mid-length dress is the coming season's superhero. A layering basic which can be worn with boots and cosy sweats on cold spring days or simply styled with ballet flats, a lightweight jacket and your favourite jewellery on days when the sun's warmth seems to be returning.
It's Not Just us... Celebs Love the Midi Dress too...
Beloved by Sarah Jessica Parker, Keira Knightley, Jessica Alba and Catherine, Princess of Wales (who will probably always be Kate Middleton to those us who have admired her style and poise since she first hit the news in the noughties), the midi is a versatile dress that exudes class. Whether they are attending a premier, opening a new wing of a hospital or relaxing at the weekend, some of our favourite A-listers make the midi dress one of their style staples too.
The Origin of the Midi Dress
The midi dress became popular in the 1940s when its conservative length - below the knee but not touching the ground - made it acceptable in society, yet more practical than the floor-length dresses that were also fashionable at this time. Women loved the midi dress because it offered greater freedom of movement, whilst still being feminine and flattering.
It soon became glamorous everyday wear and, in the 1960s, it featured in collections by British fashion designer, Mary Quant and by her French contemporary, André Courrèges. Their designs were crafted from brighter, bolder fabrics than those favoured in the 40s and 50s, and they often featured playful detailing such as Peter Pan collars, scalloped edges and puffed sleeves.
Introducing Megan, the Ultimate Organic Cotton Midi Dress
The Megan dress dispenses with the frills and details favoured in the 1960s and takes the style back to beautiful basics.
An organic cotton midi dress was an obvious addition to the Ivy range. Not only does a loose-fitting midi dress fit in perfectly with our range of relaxed fit tees, it is also a trans-seasonal style that can be cool and flowing in summer or dressed up to be warm and cosy in winter. This makes it a super hard-working wardrobe staple that aligns with the Ivy brand ethos: timeless, sustainable fashion that can be worn year-round.
Meticulously crafted from a blend of cotton jersey (organic, of course) and 5% elastane, the premium-weight fabric of the Megan midi dress offers amazing recovery and comfort. In summer, you won't find a more effortless outfit than our Megan dress. More casual than a shirt dress and far easier to wear, she can be a complete look all by herself. On cooler days you can style Megan up to be a warm dress, so she deserves a place in your winter wardrobe as well.
Early customer reviews claim it to be "so, so good. A fabulous fit, loose and easy to wear yet with shape - perfection".
Megan - At a Glance Product Details
This loose dress creates a really flattering silhouette and practical features, such as the elbow length sleeves, side pockets and bound side splits, mean you can go about your busy everyday life without worrying about being restricted, let down or shown up by your clothes.
Here are those need-to-know details for the Megan dress:
- Made in Portugal using an ethical, accredited factory. Click here for more information.
- 95% certified organic cotton, 5% elastane
- 195gsm single jersey
- Crew neck
- Ribbed neck trim
- Loose, elbow length sleeves for a cool yet flattering fit.
- Deep side pockets for lightweight essentials
- 8cm splits at hem
- Seam details down the centre back
- Currently available in two colourways (black and navy), but the stripe version will be available from March '24 (follow us on Instagram or sign up to our mailing list for updates on this eagerly awaited product drop).
- Available in 2 lengths to ensure you find the perfect fit for you:
- Petite length is designed for women 5'4" and under
- Regular length is designed for women 5'5" and over
How to wear the Megan Midi Dress
This simple dress offers a wealth of styling options, from summery and simple to layered and cosy. You may find that you live in just your Megan dress and a pair of flip flops when that warm summer sun we all crave finally makes an appearance. You'll be so fond of her by the time autumn comes around that you may just be lining up blazers, sweats, leather jackets and your favourite boots to style her into the cooler months too.
Where to Wear Megan
Every Day:
Wear Megan with your well-loved high tops or leather boots and a casual sweat, such as Nancy or Nora, and you are quickly kitted out for the school run, a trip to the shops or a day relaxing at home.
For Work:
While Megan's vibe may seem super chilled out, she can actually be a really good starting point for work outfits too. Easier to wear than a pencil skirt and with a more feminine edge than a pair of tailored trousers, you can style your Megan Dress for the office with a smart blazer and boots. Add a bit of subtle jewellery then grab your work bag and head out the door, ready to take on the day.
At Festivals:
Megan will be your new favourite casual festival dress. The magpies among us are attracted to sparkle and shine for festival wear, but what we really need is a super wearable Megan dress with pockets! Those practical pockets are perfect for any lightweight essentials we may need as we explore all the stands and the relaxed fit and functional length mean we can enjoy the music and the chilled-out vibe and forget about what we're wearing (in a good way). Wear a bit of biodegradable face glitter, a crazy hat and some glitzy jewels with your Megan and you'll feel festival-ready in minutes.
To Brunch with Friends:
For that brunch date with the girls, you need an outfit that is smarter than casual but less dressy than an outfit you might choose for a night on the town. Style Megan with some smart-but-comfy heels or boots, your go-to tote bag and a light jacket and she can be your daywear brunch dress of choice for years to come.
On Your Holidays:
Megan in the perfect minimalist ladies summer dress. Much lower maintenance than a loose linen dress, Megan's soft organic cotton and elastane blend fabric won't wrinkle as soon as you sit down, as a linen product inevitably would. Throw this multi-tasking midi on when you head to the beach bar for your lunch or dress her up with your favourite holiday jewellery when you head out in the evening.
Caring For Your Organic Cotton Megan Midi Dress
Gentle machine wash on an eco-friendly 30-degree cycle, using a mild detergent and no fabric softener (our super soft organic cotton products just don't need it). Dry your dress on the washing line or on an airing rack. Drying your Megan dress this way means she probably won't need ironing, but if she does, be sure to iron inside out, on a warm rather than a hot setting.
When your dress is dry, you'll probably want to put her straight back on again, but if you need to store her, fold her away in a drawer to avoid weird hanger-related misshapen shoulders.
Show Us How You Style Your Megan Dress
We hope that you are now tempted to try a Megan dress for yourself. If you do, we'd love to see how you style her, so please tag @ivy_thebrand on your Instagram pics. Every month, we give away an £80 Ivy voucher to our favourite post, so get tagging and see if our next lucky winner could be you! You can email them to us too at info@ivyt.co.uk
