could you explain these dress styles to me?

[IamAporcupine]

shift
skater
tea

thanks!

A shift dress is generally square looking in the hanger with or without sleeves. It has no waist.
A tea dress generally has a waist and short sleeves and is a bit 40s looking, think land girls etc..
A skater dress has a defined waist and then flares out into a a line but with plenty of fabric. Think what female skaters wear but not so theatrical, also similar to a fit and flare dress.

Shift dresses are usually simple, straight-cut, above knee dresses - suitable for wearing with tights and boots or shoes to work, imo.

Skater dresses flare out at the hip.

Not sure about tea dresses, but they usually flare out a bit and are in 'ditsy' prints and florals.

Ok, so I'm no expert but I think:

A shift dress is quite straight down, usually above the knee.

Skater goes in at the waist and flares at the bottom - like an ice dancer would wear.

A tea dress is usually the kind of thing you could wear to tea.

Shift Dress

Skater dress

Tea dress

In order shift, skater, tea

Thanks for that, as I had no real idea of the differences either.

This is the shape of shift dresses I wear.

Thank you!

So what do you call (if it has a name) a shift dress that is a bit more fitted than the ones shown up here and has a seam just below the boobs?

A different type of shift dress! 😂

If quite fitted, body con?

fitted empire line

Empire line shift?

Fitted sheath or princess seamed dress

I'd add that a skater dress is generally above the knee/mini, while a fit n flare dress is likely to be on the knee. A tea dress would end at the high calf (40's style) or at the knee (modern tea dress).

this is what I mean

www.ask-panditji.co.uk/images/Dresses/Women%20Adrianna%20Papell%20Aline%20Empire%20Waist%20Shift%20Dress%20Ivory%20Black%20-%200ID328YPCV%20195.jpg

came up with 'empire line shift', thanks picklemepopcorn