How to determine whether a high waisted pencil skirt would look good on you?

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How to determine whether a high waisted pencil skirt would look good on you?

Debbie

Active Member

Is it trial and error or I think I read somewhere that long legged people should avoid them?

Is that true or did I get it backward?

17 years ago

Dressing

9 replies

Latest reply was from anne

Tanya

Veteran

I don't think there's a hard rule, usually it's just try and see. In my case, I *think* I look good in one (I'll post photos at some point in the next few days); and my body type is long torso/short legs.

17 years ago

anne

Veteran

I think there is a guideline that long torso-ed people (like Tanya and me) do well with high waistlines because it visually extends the legs. Some longlegged people have very short waists and so the look wouldn't go so well.

But Debbie, although you have long legs you are not that short in the torso as you are not petite, so, to second Tanya, just try it and see

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Didn't Angie recently blog about this - or did I just dream it.

I struggle finding pencil skirts because I'm petite and have not much of a butt. The first problem is that the zipper is usually too long (even with petite sizing) so it ends up bunching funny. Then there's the gut factor - but that not as bad as the butt/zipper issue.

I have one pencil skirt from H&M this past summer that fits like a dream.(*) That's it. No luck elsewhere, but I should admit I'm not trying all that hard to find one, since I rarely wear skirts in the fall/winter months.

(*) Footnote added: so I know it's not my body that is the problem - it's the darn fit of the skirt.

17 years ago

ImogenL

(website)

Active Member

High waisted skirts are only good for the long waisted small bust woman, who doesn't have saddlebags.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Shiny, I refuse to believe you can’t find a pencil skirt! I have clients who are shorter than you and just your size. We do not have a challenge in this regard. They are fuller on the bottom though, which I know helps.

Imogen is spot on!

17 years ago

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

HL, if it helps, I do not pull off a high waisted pencil skirt well at all. I tried a few on several months ago and they only accented my lower half. But I can wear pencil skirts just fine so long as they don't taper.

17 years ago

yogabear

(website)

Active Member

I'm 5'2 with a short waist and larger bust, but since I have long legs (31 inseam), I can pull this off. However, I found some pencil skirts that are not super high waist. I tried on many and just by a fluke, I ordered both a red and also, a black one I found from Pinup Girl fashion. Both fit me beautifully and are quite flattering. To elongate my waist, I wore a cute short cardigan with a camisole underneath...I've done it with both pieces on top matching and once with two colors. Both times, I felt and looked great and received many compliments. I highly recommend a body shaper to wear on the bottom. I know a lot of celebs like Spanx, but I found a cheaper version at Target that works just as well. It really creates a nice line.

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I admit I haven't looked all that hard, since I rarely wear skirts in fall/winter, and have plenty of other skirt options if I get bored and want a skirt.

But Angie if you have some specific petite brand recommendations, please do send them along, maybe I will check them out when sale season comes along.

I fairly recently culled from my closet a Petite Sophisticate (the old one - not the online new one) high-waisted pencil skirt in a microcheck that would get a high AAR. I *loved* that skirt. So snappy. I wore it before I had my now-teen babies. I held on to it (and a pair of dress slacks) for all these years (going on 17) as a test to see if I would ever regain my 23-inch pre-pregnancy waist. And nope. Just not going to happen! So I finally let it go....

17 years ago

anne

Veteran

Hmm, I am longwaisted and small busted, but unfortunately have got saddlebags! Actually I haven't tried this particular look, but I had several (pleasted!) highwaisted skirts in the early 90's. I love pencil skirts and while they often don't flatter, do occasionally jag one that does. Seems to be a case of the sides somehow skimming from the waist to the thighs and making it appear that that is a smooth line. That may not make sense!

17 years ago

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