How Celebs Are Wearing the Hottest Hemline of the Summer: The Midi!

01 of 11

MINKA KELLY

The outfit: Flouncy skirt + equally flouncy off-the-shoulder top + sleek nude sandal
Why it works: The fabrics are what makes Minka stand out despite the neutral color palette: The circular eyelet pattern her Tibi skirt plays off the subtle stripes on her contrasting black top. A simple shoe grounds the voluminous look and adds length to the almost entirely hidden leg.

02 of 11

JENNIFER ANISTON

The outfit: Navy silk dress + soft pink sneakers + fedora
Why it works: The raw-edge hem makes the high-end silky fabric feel low-key, and the hat and sneakers add a menswear vibe to the feminine silhouette. Plus, the color of her pendant necklace echoes the hue of her sneaks. That's Jen Aniston for you: Low-maintenance, but still pulled-together.

03 of 11

LILY ALDRIDGE AND BEHATI PRINSLOO

The outfits: Button-front short-sleeve dresses + mules + buns
Why they work: Yes, it does help that these Victoria's Secret models have mile-long legs, but the key to pulling off the slip-on mule is making sure the rest of your look is totally effortless (that's where the bun hairstyle comes in) and adding in one standout accessory. For Lily, it's her whimsical bag (we love that it's almost old-ladyish, which is another way this dress could be interpreted), and for Behati, it's a tough moto jacket.

04 of 11

THE OBAMA LADIES

The outfits: Paisley patterned dresses + low black heels
Why they work: Even though Malia, Sasha and Michelle are all wearing different looks, the first family is killing it in variations on a sartorial theme: A tapestry-inspired print, some kind of waist definition (be it a belt or a band) and low, reasonable black heels.

05 of 11

KATHARINE MCPHEE

The outfit: White tank top (hers is JBrand) + fringe skirt + metallic strappy sandals
Why it works: It would be easy to let this Tamara Mellon skirt be the only bold piece in this ensemble, but Katharine's gold braided heels are eye-catching without competing with it too much.

06 of 11

LEA MICHELE

The outfit: Straight black tank dress + chambray shirt + slip-on sandals
Why it works: Lea is just 5'3'', but notice that she looks super tall here and isn't even wearing heels! That's because both the dress and the shoes are solid black. And why, you might ask, should you pair a denim shirt with this rather than a jean jacket? The easy flowiness of her open shirt is something that can't really be achieved with a stiffer jacket.

07 of 11

JENNA DEWAN TATUM

The outfit: A belted sleeveless dress + streamlined heels + neutral bucket bag
Why it works: File this under “modern minimalist.” Actually, put it at the top of that file. The sexiness of the plunging neckline is balanced out by the length of the dress and the careful accessorizing. What stands out here is that there are no standout pieces: Her ear climbers are teeny and the only real adornment on this look at all is the tassels on her bag.

08 of 11

ELLE FANNING

The outfit: Cotton tank dress + varsity jacket + sneakers + ladylike bag
Why it works: Before you write off dressing like this because 1) you don't own a Gucci bag and sneaks and 2) if you did you wouldn't wear them to the airport, take a beat. The way Elle is juxtaposing sporty and feminine here shows she's wise beyond her fashion years. Bonus points for picking red sunnies to draw out that bright hue from her other accessories.

09 of 11

ROSARIO DAWSON

The outfit: Geometric-patterned skirt + short-sleeve blouse + loafers
Why it works: In case you're worried about feeling frumpy in flats with a wide-cut skirt like this, take a cue from Rosario, who is clearly totally thrilled by this look. If you're happy and comfy, it will show! Since there's so much going on (notice that the punchy print on the skirt has marbling motif that's echoed on the blouse), patent loafers are a grounding choice.

10 of 11

JESSICA ALBA

The outfits: Slip dress + oversize metallic clutch + two different pairs of ankle strap heels + a studded jacket
Why they work: It's not a shock that changing your heel height can totally change the length of your dress, but we love the way Jessica changes her entire look based on her shoes. The black platforms are a little fancy, but a trendy jacket up top makes the look almost office appropriate. When she wants to wear the dress on its own, she picks a lower wedge heel in a matching navy.

11 of 11

ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY

The outfit: Flowy chiffon long-sleeve dress + lace-up boots + businesslike bag + round shades
Why it works: It would've been so easy for Rosie to make this Zimmermann dress full-on bohemian with a saddle bag, sandals, and those round shades, but the addition of a structured bag and boots gives it an unexpectedly preppy twist. And in case you were wondering, we're saving this look for our fall inspo as well.