Mini Dresses

What is a mini dress?

Mini dresses sit well above the knee, typically landing somewhere around mid thigh. The short hem is what gives the style its energy: it shows leg, feels youthful and photographs brilliantly, which is why it owns party season and date night. The mini grew out of the miniskirt revolution of the 1960s and has never really left, cycling back every few seasons in new fabrics from sequin to ribbed knit.

Mini vs midi vs micro

How high the hem sits changes the mood entirely, so it helps to know the steps.

• Mini vs midi: the mini bares the leg above the knee, the midi covers it to mid calf.
• Mini vs micro: a classic mini lands mid thigh, a micro or super mini sits much higher and is best saved for a night out.
• Bodycon vs babydoll: a bodycon mini holds the figure, a babydoll flares out from an empire waist.
• Cami vs long sleeve: a cami or strappy mini reads warm weather, a long sleeve mini carries into cooler nights.

Built for parties and date nights

This is the length to reach for when there is somewhere to be. A ruched or bodycon mini works for a party or a birthday, a tie waist or sash detail nips you in and adds a bow of interest, and a cocktail mini in satin or lace holds its own at a dressier event. For date night, a little coverage up top balances the short hem, so a long sleeve or a higher neck keeps it flirty rather than fussy.

How to style a mini dress

A mini shifts easily between casual and dressed up with a change of shoe and layer.

• Daytime: a cotton mini with a denim jacket, sneakers and a crossbody bag.
• Evening: a sequin or satin mini with heels, a clutch and statement jewelry.
• Weekend: a knit mini with ankle boots and tights when the weather turns cooler.

Getting the fit right

With a mini, coverage is the thing to get right so you can move without thinking about the hem. Check the length measurement on the size guide against your own thigh, since the same style can read shorter on a taller frame. A little stretch helps a fitted mini sit smoothly, and if you are between sizes in a bodycon shape, size up so it skims rather than pulls. Prefer a touch more room? A flared or babydoll cut gives ease through the hip. Our plus size minis follow the same measurements.

Shop the full mini edit

Shop the full mini dresses edit from sequin to knit within our wider dresses collection, and find the same short hem in separates over in our mini skirts edit. New styles land weekly, and US orders over $75 ship free.