Work midi dress styles, a midi work dress in knit

A work midi dress has to sit through a long meeting, walk to lunch and still look right at dinner. We sew ours to cover the knee, in rib, angora-blend knit, velvet and smooth sheath cuts. In Britain it’s a midi work dress, and the job is no different.

Sheath and rib midis for the desk

The sheath is the safe start. We make it in black and in powder pink, round at the neck, and its sleeve stops at three-quarter length to keep your watch in view. It isn’t seasonal. A blazer and low pumps finish it for a client meeting. Bust in one size and hips in another? Go with the hips, even if that means sizing up, and the skirt won’t strain as you walk.

Rib is for days with more moving around. Our black high-neck rib midi recovers after each stretch, so by evening the elbows haven’t gone baggy. Wear it with a blazer and loafers at the office and switch to ankle boots after. In blue rib, a shallow V opens the neck just enough for work. There’s a sleeveless rib midi in black and in white, too, cut like a long tank. Under a jacket it works all year.

Warm knits for a cold office, wraps for July

Some offices never warm up. That’s when an angora-blend midi with a high neck earns its place, because you get a sweater’s warmth in something that passes for office wear. We sew it in beige, caramel, black, red and powder pink. With the beige one we’d pick a brown blazer and loafers. For a business dinner, a high-neck midi in black velvet is the quiet option.

Summer changes the fabric. Our warm-weather midis are wraps with short sleeves, in polka dots and small florals. The black one with blue flowers hides the little creases a long day leaves, and its dark base makes it handy on a business trip. These are summer styles, which is why they’re listed only while it’s warm out.

You’ll notice a leg slit on some of the rib styles. Fine after hours. For the office, check your dress code first.