I remember my senior-year sorority formals dress: white base, pink/green strapless Laura Ashley. It was the most sophisticated dress I'd ever purchased. And was it a mini? Nope. Was it full length? Nope. It was tea length. In 1987, tea length (mid-shin) was the sophisticated length for formal evening wear for girls of a certain age/status/whatever. If I had the energy, I'd jump up and scan a photo for you. But I don't. So look at the dress above.
From what I'm reading in the blogosphere, tea length is once again hot. I'm fine with this. I like dresses of every length. But here's what I have to say to little women, women of a certain height and perhaps width: consider showing the full bottom-half of your legs. Knowing what I know about fit and proportion at this stage in my life, I know that I look more proportional at 5'3", 130 lbs with some leg showing (but not my thighs, for God's sake!). I seem to lose my body with longer dresses. The affect you want to have is that you have a shape, not that you're hiding it. Of course, if you're thin or tall, you are more likely able to carry off a tea length.
Here's a cute picture of tea length on The Sartorialist blog.
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