Last week, Notorious turned its gaze towards England and the chic and timeless fashion that it offers. From the recent coronation of King Charles III to the Garden Parties attended by Kate, Princess of Wales, and Sophie, the new Duchess of Edinburgh, it’s clear that the English know how to throw a fabulous party. And what better way to dress for the occasion than in a classic and feminine tea dress? So, we selected for you the best and most stylish English fashion brands.
But what exactly is a tea dress, you may ask?
Well, this iconic style of dress originated in the 1930s and 1940s and has since become a wardrobe staple for fashion-conscious women around the world. Typically made from lightweight fabrics like cotton or silk, the tea dress features a fitted bodice and a flared or flowing skirt that falls to the knee or mid-calf. Often adorned with nature-inspired prints, such as floral patterns, and intricate details like ruffles, lace, or embroidery, the tea dress is perfect for any daytime or afternoon social event.
So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at some of the affordable English fashion brands that offer stylish and affordable tea dresses for spring 2023.
1- Jigsaw
Jigsaw has the principle of bringing elevated design to the British High Street. Jigsaw’s chic and elaborated silhouettes are inspired by the Japanese aesthetic from Yohji Yamamoto, Comme de Garcon and Issey Mikaye. Jigsaw is also known for collaborating with the finest creative minds. Lately, they collaborated with Collagerie, the most stylish fashion & lifestyle online magazine, based in London.
2- Whistles
Whistles is a high-end English brand that offers elegant and sophisticated tea dresses for any event. With their minimalist yet chic designs, Whistles’ tea dresses are perfect for a more upscale garden party or afternoon tea.
3- LK Bennet
LK Bennet is originally from Wimbledon, the place of the most exclusive tennis tournament. By the way, Wimbledon encourages its female audience to wear tea dresses during the tournament. So there you are, LK Bennet offers colour palettes from vintage Parisian sample books to prints with a nod to 1950s photography, all reimagined to create a unique design. No surprise that the brands are a favourite of celebrities and royalty alike.
4- Jovonna London
Jovonna London is loved by influencers and VIPs, including Pixie Lott, Rita Ora and Lucy Meck. The brand offers versatile pieces for the modern cosmopolitan woman that take you from coffee to cocktails. As with all Jovonna London collections, the wearer is the heart of the brand, with clothes that allow the personality of the girl to radiate.
5- Ghost
Ghost is a British brand known for its vintage-inspired tea dresses. With their flowing silhouettes, delicate fabrics, and intricate details, Ghost designs are perfect for a romantic garden party or afternoon tea. All the fabrics are produced and woven in-house, using the highest quality viscose yarns. The ‘garment dye’ process and wash use an exclusive technic, resulting in a luxurious, silk-like yet machine-washable texture.
6- ME+EM
This is our favourite brand. ME+EM is modern and chic, and they make the best beauty-quality dresses. ME+EM was founded in 2009 by Clare Hornby, who explains what ME+EM stands for: “The quintessential customer we have in mind is socially busy, works, and is juggling a family. The philosophy is that we make dressing easier. We do a lot of the work around proportion and shape, so you can get on with the important things in life.” Clare Hornby adds, “My whole strategy is around price and quality. We sit between luxury and high street.” We love the concept, and we’re not the only ones. Celebrity fans of the label include the Princess of Wales, Nicole Kidman, Zoe Ball, and Cara Delevingne, among others.
7- Boden
Boden started as a catalogue and became a quintessential English fashion brand. With their signature bold and bright colours, playful prints, and feminine silhouettes, Boden’s tea dresses are perfect for a fun and flirty garden party. Boden isn’t about fast fashion and fads. It never was. It’s about making clothes that put a smile on your face, for a long, long time.
8- Hobbs
Since 1981, Hobbs has been devoted to creating classic, elegant clothing and accessories. Their tea dresses are timeless and feminine, inspired by English heritage. Hobbs’ tea dresses are made from high-quality fabrics and are designed to be versatile, so you can wear them to a variety of events and occasions.
Overall, these are the most popular English fashion brands that offer tea dresses as they should be. However, if you want the real deal and have your dress tailored or at least semi-couture, these are the brands that dressed some of the guests at the coronation of King Charles III:
- Claire Mischevani dressed Akshata Murthy, Rishi Sunaki’s wife and Pippa Middleton.
- Alexander McQueen dressed the Princess of Wales.
- Suzannah London dressed the Duchess of Edinburgh and her daughter, Lady Louise Windsor.
- Safiyaa dressed Penny Mordaunt.
Grab your cup of tea, and have fun!
Featured Image Courtesy @Whistles