In November 2013, Kristen Anne Bell joined Demi Lovato for the premiere of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new animated film Frozen in Hollywood. In the movie, Kristen voices Anna.
Kristen Bell shines at the Frozen premiere in a sleeveless Sachin + Babi halter dress with intricate floral appliqué detailing (Credit: Nikki Nelson / WENN / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Apega / Lexi Jones)
Of no relation to Lake Bell, the then 33-year-old actress styled a sleeveless Sachin + Babi halter dress featuring a dark grey swing skirt and a floral appliqué bodice with a clutch and shoes by Christian Louboutin.
Kristen Bell attends the Frozen premiere in a tea-length Sachin + Babi dress, pairing it with Christian Louboutin ankle-strap heels and a chic satin clutch on November 19, 2013, in Hollywood, California (Credit: Nikki Nelson / WENN / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Apega / Lexi Jones)
Why Tea-Length Dresses Are a Controversial Choice for Petite Women
Being just 5′ 1″ (1.55 m) tall, online fashion critics quickly commented that tea-length dresses don’t look flattering on petite women, especially when paired with ankle strap sandals.
The ideal hem length for shorter individuals depends on where the waist and hemline fall. A true midi dress should typically hit just below the knees. For floor-length styles, the hem should be an inch or two off the ground to avoid awkwardly cutting off the leg at the ankle.
Kristen Bell completes her look at the Frozen premiere with elegant Christian Louboutin ankle-strap heels featuring the brand’s signature red soles (Credit: Nikki Nelson / WENN / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Apega / Lexi Jones)
Tea-Length Dresses in Fashion History
A bit longer than calf-length dresses, tea-length dresses usually stop right above the ankle. A type of skirt women wore to high tea in the 1920s, some tea-length skirts stop up to 2 or 3 inches above the ankle.
Kristen Bell adds a touch of elegance to her Frozen premiere look with a chic white satin clutch (Credit: Nikki Nelson / WENN / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Apega / Lexi Jones)
Just so we have the definitions in order, the average American woman is 5 ft 4 in (163cm), and anyone under 5 ft 1 in (155cm) is generally considered petite. Do you agree that tea-length dresses don’t look flattering on petite women?
Short actress Jenna Coleman, who measures 5ft 2 (157.5 cm), wore a Louis Vuitton floral print dress to the V&A Summer Party at the Victoria and Albert Museum on June 22, 2016, in London, England (Credit: Nikki Nelson / WENN / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Apega / Lexi Jones)
Kate Bosworth, standing at an average height of 5ft 5 (165.1 cm), effortlessly showcased her style in an Erdem floral tea-length dress, perfectly paired with elegant Tabitha Simmons heels at the SS-GB world premiere in London.
Kate Bosworth rocked a floral tea-length dress at the world premiere of BBC One’s SS-GB at the May Fair Hotel on January 30, 2017, in London, England (Credit: Nikki Nelson / WENN / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Apega / Lexi Jones)