April 23rd, 2008
If you’re going to go un-tucked, then tops that look good with skirts are not the same tops that look good with pants or jeans. Length is the key issue:
- Skirts look best with tailored tops that are shorter in length. This is especially true of A-line skirts where it’s imperative to accentuate the waistline (volume on top of volume doesn’t work). Keep the hem of the top on or just above hipbone depending on where the waist of the skirt sits on the body. A longer top worn out over skirts looks disproportionate and sloppy.
- Pants look best with tops that are 1 to 3 inches above crotch point (unless it’s a tunic, which is a completely different look). A longer vertical line is achieved, which is especially effective on pretty pear body types. You can find your personal best length with some experimentation. Height, torso length and thigh width come into play.
Occasionally you’ll get away with wearing a longer top with skirts by adding a waist-cinching belt. This shortens the length of the top and the right proportions fall into place. You could also tuck in a longer top. It’s a little harder to do, but there’s a lot of that going on this season. A topic for another day.
Shorter tops worn at flattering hipbone length with flared skirts.
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12 Replies
Posted on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 at 7:36 am
This is perfect timing, because I was just going to ask on the forums about what tops to wear with skirts. I think I’ll have to shop around for some shorter-length tops for my A-line denim skirt. When I took it on vacation this winter I realized I didn’t like how any of my tops looked with it. Now I understand why!
Posted on April 23rd, 2008 at 8:35 am
Where exactly do I find shorter tops? It seems that everything out for the past two years has been the longer length.
Posted on April 23rd, 2008 at 9:30 am
Great timing with this article! I’m in the middle of planning summer skirt outfits, that is finding tops to go with those skirts. Most of the tops are longer these days, but I have just discovered that if I buy them in petite ( and I am not petite) the length is perfect for skirts!
Posted on April 23rd, 2008 at 9:46 am
It makes perfect sense that a belt can make a longer top wearable with a skirt, whether it’s built-in or add-on. I’m also very interested in how to make a tuck-in top looks good if I don’t have a tiny waist.
Posted on April 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
Tanya, that’s a great tip about buying petite tops for skirts, I wouldn’t have thought about that.
Posted on April 23rd, 2008 at 11:59 am
I like everyone of the pictures on today’s post!
Posted on April 23rd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Wow, that pink and orange red taffeta skirt is fabulous! It’s not for me (can’t do those pleats, and I’d fear the horizontal stripes as well), but boy do I envy the woman who can wear it well 
Posted on April 23rd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Hi- what kind of a top would be good with a black skirt that has diagonal strips of white grosgrain ribbon decorating it? I have broad shoulders and good size bust, and arms that are in shape.
Terri
Posted on April 23rd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Great timing! I just got 3 new skirts and are looking for tops to go with them. I am so excited to find a great top for each of these summer skirts. Thanks Angie!
Posted on April 26th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
[...] over pants look best when they’re worn a little longer. One to three inches above your crotch point (somewhere between where the inseam of your pants [...]
Posted on April 28th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Angie, I totally reorganized my closet based on this post and your other two recent shirt-length posts. All my shorter shirts now hang with my skirts, and longer ones with pants. I’m so jazzed, I even posted to my own blog about the experience. You’re a total inspiration. Many thanks!
Posted on May 12th, 2008 at 9:14 am
[...] some good advice from You Look Fab on how to choose the right length for an untucked top. If you’re going to go un-tucked, then tops [...]
Posted on August 1st, 2009 at 11:19 am
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