Women's Knee Length Dresses

The knee is a moving target. The same dress that sits neatly on the kneecap on one frame rides two or three inches above it on a taller one, which is why this length is judged by where the hem actually lands rather than by the number on the label. Resting at or just below the kneecap reads formal and covers the widest span of occasions, while a touch higher lightens the whole thing considerably.

The cut does most of the work here. Sheath and pencil shapes follow the body, fit-and-flare and A-line skirts swing away from it, and column shapes fall straight from the shoulder. The fronts differ too: a shirt dress buttons down the centre, while a wrap crosses over and ties. Sleeves shift the register as much as the hem does — sleeveless and cap read lighter, puff and long sleeves more covered. Fabric settles the rest: crepe and wool suiting hold a skirt in place, jersey, silk and satin move with the body, and lace or structured poplin sit between the two.