One of our most popular designs the tea dress is a super versatile wardrobe staple.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR FABRIC + PLACE YOUR ORDER:
1. Choose your fabric by heading to our instagram fabric gallery
Each fabric has a reference number & details of which of our designs + sizes it is suitable for. Comment on the instagram post or email us via info@theemperorsoldclothes.co.uk to reserve it – we generally only have enough of each fabric for 1-2 garments so this step is really important!
2. Place your order here – double-check you have the correct garment style.
Your fabric reservation lasts for 72 hours so please place your order during this time otherwise the fabric will become available to other customers.
Important: make sure to write your size, sleeve preference + fabric reference number in the order notes when you are entering your payment details.
3. Sit back, make a cup of tea + get excited about your one of a kind garment!
GARMENT DETAILS:
With a comfortable figure-hugging cut or a relaxed fit, this tea dress finishes just below the knee. Handmade from scratch in your choice of fabric the dress fastens with a side or back zip fastening.
Our tea dress is a modern, more simple take on day dresses from the 1950s.
WAYS TO WEAR:
Wear the dress alone with your favourite shoes for out number 1.
For all year round wear style the dress with a high-neck top underneath and ankle boots to keep you warm in the colder months.
Our tea dresses would make for a perfect formal dress for a wedding or an everyday dress. Dress up with a clutch bag & your favourite heels or go for a relaxed feel with some high socks & cosy cashmere.
Feel good fashion! This teadress will be created by our small team in our Brighton & Hove studio for a living wage. Every piece we make is totally unique and will not be reproduced.
Want to see how this design looks made up in different fabrics & sizes? Check out our Instagram @emperorscloth
All our clothing and accessories are hand-tailored from scratch in our Brighton & Hove studio. Every item we create is completely unique and created using mainly vintage and end-of-roll fabrics so no two items are the same.
Verified owner Rachel (verified owner) –
I absolutely adore my lovely emperors floral tea dress. The customer service was exceptional, with the team always available to answer questions and provide guidance on suitable fabrics and designs. I chose a gorgeous brightly coloured floral viscose in the end and opted for a custom midi length with short gathered sleeves and a V neckline. When my dress arrived, I was absolutely blown away! The fit was perfect, and the fabric is so soft and floaty. I’ve received countless compliments and feel truly special whenever I wear it!
Verified owner Kelly Landers Hawthorne (verified owner) –
The Emperor’s team made me a dreamy midi length blue linen tea dress with armhole frills, and it’s been glorious this summer.
Verified owner Lizetta (verified owner) –
I have a number of tea dresses in my wardrobe now and I love that they are all different – not only due to the fabric choice, but due to the numerous options you can choose from. Sleeve type, skirt length, pockets or no pockets (always pockets of course – I’m a side seam gal) you really can make each dress your own. The team go out of their way to help with decisions to get the dress just right and there is nothing like the joy when the finished garment arrives on the doorstep. It’s always worth the wait. Right, time to go and make decisions about my next statement dress…
Verified owner Carolyn Wall (verified owner) –
In case anyone is wondering which dress-type to go go for between all the options, I am going to leave a review of my favourite things about each style.
I love how a tea dress is just a bit fancy, even in its simplest form. The beautiful gathered skirt just feels so good to wear. I particularly like to go empire line on tea dress bodices, to create such a comfortable dress. This style suits any weight of fabric – I have tea dresses in light fabrics and in heavier fabric like corduroy.
The style, I find especially lovely if you want a fancy dress in a fabric with a directional print too, as the print will all fall the right way round.
Verified owner Cathy (verified owner) –
I love the simplicity and comfort of a tea dress. My favourite is my lemon fabric tea dress in an oversized comfort fit! Perfect for summer. It’s such good quality I’ve had it now for years and it looks just as good as the day I received it. Worth every penny!
Verified owner Sarah (verified owner) –
I’ve bought a few teadresses from Emperors and they’re all so gorgeous and easy to wear. If youre not sure what garment style to go for I’d definitely recommend this one!!
Verified owner Yufan Chen (verified owner) –
The Emperor’s tea dress is my go-to because it’s so versatile. Depending on the fabric, the length, the sleeve shapes, you can end up with beautiful outfits you can dress up or down for any occasion. I have big, floral, full length numbers with the most excessive sleeves I could design, I also have soft, comfy, relaxed fit knee-length dresses I happily work from home in. The gather at the waist makes this style flattering in every size IMO, and depending on your shape you’ve got options of normal or empire waist (I know I look better in an empire); I’ve not seen one customer picture of someone in their Emperor’s tea dress where I didn’t think they looked fantastic. If in doubt, tea dress!
Verified owner Divya Desa (verified owner) –
You can never go wrong with an Emperor’s Teadress! From something more casual in cotton or cheesecloth, to dressier fabrics lile tulle, silk, and lamé – all my Emps teadresses are an instant mood lifter, and also my go-to option for anything from an outing to the grocery store to a dinner party. They pair really well with side-seam pockets, gathered sleeves, or armhole frills if you want to go sleeveless! If you’re not sure what your first Emperor’s garment should be, make it a teadress – you won’t regret it. 🙂
Verified owner Divya Desa (verified owner) –
p.s. I forgot to add – deep square necklines, full-length puff sleeves, and shoulder ties (not all on the same garment) have also been some of my favourite ways to customise my Emperor’s teadress! Cecily and Alice usually know exactly what will work, based on your choice of fabric. 🙂
Verified owner Helen Bovey (verified owner) –
Gorgeous dresses which can be customised to your style preference and length, I’ve always struggled with dresses and having access to dresses which are made for me is a game changer! I love that you can customise everything, from sleeves to frills! These dresses can be worn for any occasion, and are especially good for parties.