What is a tiered dress?
A tiered dress has a skirt made of stacked horizontal layers, each a bit wider than the last, so it swings and floats. Prairie and smocked versions are the big variations. Wear it to day weddings, on holiday and anywhere warm, then add boots and a knit when it cools.
When to wear a tiered dress
Wear it to
Who it suits
Works on you if you want volume and movement without a tight waist.
Works on you if you like a romantic, slightly vintage look.
Works on you if you want a dress that feels cool and roomy on a hot day.
Heads up if you want a sleek, minimal look. Tiers add a lot of fabric.
Heads up on windy days in a light mini. Tiers love to catch a breeze.
How to style it
- Flat sandals or slides
- Combat boots or chunky loafers for contrast
- A cropped denim jacket
- A chunky cardigan
- A thin belt to add shape
- A woven bag
- Avoid. A long, boxy coat that hides the tiers
- Avoid. Extra frills on your shoes and bag
What makes it a tiered dress
The skirt, mostly. A tiered dress is "built from horizontal layers of fabric, each slightly wider than the one above", as FashionUnited puts it. Every seam adds a bit more fullness, so the dress floats out toward the hem. The top can be anything: thin straps, puff sleeves, a square neck or a shirt collar. It comes in every length.
Prairie and smocked versions
Prairie dresses are the romantic cousin. Research from FIT traces the defined prairie silhouette to the 1970s, drawn from a romantic, idealised vision of the American West, and notes it came back hard in the late 2010s. Seventies versions often had high necks, small florals, lace and long sleeves (FIDM Museum). Today's take is usually "pouf-sleeved, tiered and empire-waisted", says Vogue Scandinavia.
Smocked dresses use smocking, "an embroidery technique used to gather fabric so that it can stretch" (Apparel Search). On a tiered dress it usually sits across the bodice, which means a stretchy, pull on top with no zip to fight.
How to wear it
For a day wedding, pick a midi or maxi in a dressier fabric and add heeled sandals. On a beach holiday, go light cotton and flat sandals. To stop all that volume feeling like a nightie, mix in something tougher: Who What Wear suggests edgier boots with a delicate tiered dress, and a belt to give a boxy shape some waist. For the office, it suggests a neutral midi with a slouchy blazer and booties.
Fabric by season
In summer, cotton voile is the classic: light, breathable and with enough drape for the tiers to hang properly (FashionUnited). Linen and cotton poplin work too. When it cools down, Vogue Scandinavia suggests a chunky cardigan, calf socks and combat boots, or an oversized blazer with loafers. Who What Wear adds a shearling coat and knee high boots for winter.
In Australia vs the US: cardigan season in Australia is autumn and winter, March to August (Bureau of Meteorology). In the US it's fall (autumn) and winter, September to February (NOAA).
Shop tiered dresses
See all tiered dressesCommon questions
What is a tiered dress?
A dress whose skirt is made of horizontal layers, each a little wider than the one above. That gives it volume and movement toward the hem. It comes in every length.
What's the difference between a tiered dress and a prairie dress?
A tiered dress is defined by its stacked skirt. A prairie dress is a vintage leaning look with details like high necks, small florals, lace or puff sleeves. Plenty of prairie dresses are tiered, but not every tiered dress is prairie.
Can you wear a tiered dress to a wedding?
Yes, especially a day wedding. Choose a midi or maxi in a dressier fabric and skip white. For an evening wedding, go darker, with lace or sheer details.
How do you wear a tiered dress in winter?
Layer a chunky cardigan or a shearling coat over it and add knee high or combat boots. Socks or tights help too.
What does smocked mean on a dress?
Smocking is an embroidery technique that gathers fabric so it can stretch. On a dress it usually sits on the bodice, giving a stretchy, pull on fit.
Sources
- FashionUnited: The layered dress trend, why tiered silhouettes are having a moment
- FIT: Utility, Rebellion, Modesty: A History of the Prairie Dress, 1850 to 2019
- FIDM Museum: 1970s prairie style dresses
- Vogue Scandinavia: How to style your prairie dresses for fall
- Apparel Search: Smocking definition
- Who What Wear: The prettiest dress style of 2020 has arrived
- Bureau of Meteorology: Climate glossary, seasons
- NOAA NCEI: Meteorological versus astronomical seasons