How to Style a Midi Dress 7 (Easy) Ways

How to style a midi dress? In truth, calf-length dresses are super wearable. The right midi should be effortlessly flattering and stylish.

Still, there are a couple reasons why you might need some midi styling inspiration. One is that you’ve not worn the midi hemline before and you’re not sure how it fits with your personal style. You obviously don’t want your friends asking, “why are you wearing that?” So, you want your first midi experiences to be natural, without a hint of self-consciousness.

The second reason is for variety. Your favorite midi dress probably looks amazing as is, but maybe you’ve worn it dozens of times. And while no one has noticed you’re wearing the same Orange Sherbet floral midi dress with a cinched waist on repeat, you’re interested in shaking things up.

Whatever the case, you’re in the right place. Below are the seven easiest ways to style a midi dress.

How to style a midi dress

1. Add a belt

Belts are an easy and convenient way to add style to a midi dress. On an A-line or shift dress, the belt defines your waist — which can be a super flattering update. On a midi that already has a belt, swapping out that belt can give the dress a whole new look.

Try getting sophisticated with a thin leather belt. Or, go Bohemian with a beaded waist tie. You can also play with contrast, choosing a boldly colored belt that’ll stand out against the color or pattern of your dress.  

2. Accessorize with heels

You can wear many types of shoes with a midi dress, but your first choice may be something casual — like a faux leather slide or sandal.

Reaching for heels instead can upgrade your look and — bonus — make your legs look longer. A peep-toe heel adds a classy retro vibe, while a sleek, heeled tall boot leans into your elegant side. You can also experiment with kitten heels, mules with block heels, and strappy, heeled sandals.

Finally, don’t be afraid to wear a statement heel with your midi. A bright orange heel paired with a navy blue midi dress, for example, can be a combo that turns heads.

3. Reach for bold jewelry

The beauty of midi dresses is that they’re often simple in style. Like a canvas waiting to be made into artwork.

With a simple midi dress, feel free to reach for bold jewelry. A layered necklace, shoulder grazing earrings, or an exotic cuff bracelet will do nicely.

You can also mix and match different jewelry types — say a natural stone bracelet with a more modern silver pendant. Just remember to choose one statement piece and let the others play supporting roles.

4. Play with layers

A new layer or two can refresh an old midi dress like nothing else. Some ideas to consider:

• A cropped vest over a long-sleeved midi
• A light button-down tied at the waist over a midi
• A sleek t-shirt underneath a sleeveless midi
• A pretty cami underneath a button-front midi
• A moto jacket over a midi
• A waist-length or longline blazer or cardigan over a midi
• Tights underneath a midi

5. Style it with sneakers

Sneakers paired with a midi dress emulate a sporty chic style. Plus, it’s a comfortable way to spend your day.

Reach for tidy sneakers in a neutral color such as white, beige, or black. By “tidy,” I mean these aren’t your cross trainers or running shoes. They’re clean fashion sneakers, maybe Sperry’s, Vejas, or Supergas. You could even wear Converse as long as they’re not beat up.

6. Choose a bag that fits the occasion

For practical reasons, you might carry the same bag regularly. For style reasons, consider switching it out. The midi dress is versatile enough to work with many different types of bags. For example:

• Try a crossbody bag when you need to be hands-free.
• Try a monogrammed tote bag when you’re headed to a picnic or running errands.
• Go for a clutch when you need a more upscale vibe.
• Reach for the leather briefcase when you’re en route to an important meeting.
• A hobo bag with a zipper is ideal for city sightseeing.

7. Denim goes with everything

For cooler days, a denim jacket looks fantastic over a midi dress, especially a white midi dress. It’s especially stylish over a flowy midi dress because the denim balances that flow with structure.

You can tailor this combo to suit your personal style, too. To keep things relaxed, opt for an oversized denim jacket. To show off your shape and style up a bit, reach for a cropped denim jacket.

You can also use your choice of shoes, jewelry, and handbag to dress the look up or down.

Styling that midi

The number one rule of styling a midi dress is to enjoy the process. Have fun experimenting with different shoe, jewelry, bag, and layer combos — you’ll eventually land on midi dress outfits that work for your style and flatter your shape.