Knee-baring and age limits? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Knee-baring and age limits?

catgirl

Veteran

I saw a few posts on Suz's Vince dress thread involving age and knee exposure. Is this a thing? I don't give my knees a second thought. There are certain body parts I will or won't bare, but they are the same body parts I wouldn't have bared 25 years ago either. Is there an upper limit on baring certain body parts such as cleavage, knees, shoulders, midriff - and why?

Dressing

69 replies

Latest reply was from old chic

Anonymous

I was a bit intrigued buy it too, I'll admit. There are a few instances where an above-knee skirt or dress doesn't seem quite right now to me -( pencil skirts, dressier dresses etc ) but that Vince dress (which I have too) doesn't fall into that category for me. I guess it's all about how you feel your knees look at a certain age. Mine certainly don't look the way they did even 5 years ago, but nothing does ! I can't wait to wear mine

lynn

Veteran

I think it's more about how much above the knee we go after a certain age. I am short and always show my knees in a dress. If it's really casual and summertime, I go a few inches above the knee. Dressier clothes come down a little to right at the top of the knee. I'm 58 and feel perfectly appropriate.

Banoffi

Veteran

I bare my knees (I just turned 50). They don't look great, but not horrible (at least in my mind). Like Lynn, I'm short and always want to show a bit of knee or dresses and skirts tend to look overwhelming or dowdy on me.

Lyn D.

Veteran

I don't think it is a set age, but a very personal thing for each person.
I don't give a second thought to showing my upper arms at the Gym, but I am fussy about choosing more flattering sleeve-lengths when buying everyday clothes.
I would rather accentuate my waist than wear a lower neckline, but like you this has always been my preference.

Vildy

Veteran

I think it's smart to keep at least one outfit with a skirt covering the knee for ultra-traditional, formally dignified occasions like meeting the Queen - I think I read she made Kate Middleton drop her hems.

Otherwise, I don't think the knee or the elbow is particularly celebrated as charmingly risque. I do read a lot of online complaints of women bemoaning their aging knees. Trinny of Trinny and Susannah is one.
I can't figure out what's supposed to be wrong with her knees, though.
Or anyone else's.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I prefer my skirts to hit close to the knee but I have wavered between different length preferences over the years and it has nothing to do with age. I think it is more about being comfortable in your own skin and accentuating your strengths. For many over 50 women, that is the legs.

More power to you for baring whatever part you feel should be seen!!

MsMaven

Veteran

I will wear top of knee or an inch above with stockings, and shorter for casual denim skirts bare legged. I rarely wear dresses or skirts any more. My problem isn't my knees, but my spider and varicose veins.

I think it depends a lot on your proportions, the fitness of the legs, and how high you go and if you wear tights or stockings. I suspect different people will be more or less judgmental about it. I also suspect it depends on the motive of the wearer--if you think you are fooling people that you are young and hip--it doesn't work.

Beth at Style of a Certain Age is in her 50s and she looks great in above the knee skirts and shorts. She was featured on YLF a few days ago. I love her look from Thursday, August 13 with the leather jacket, denim skirt and knee boots.

She wears sleeveless as well, and in her blog photos. http://www.styleatacertainage.com

Kyle

Veteran

I don't think there is a rule. I'm perfectly ok having something fall at the knee or even a bit above. For me, personally, at almost 55, anything shorter than that (except actual shorts) just does not feel right anymore. When I go too short it tends to look a bit "girlish" and I'm going for something more classic and elegant, ala Claire Underwood. I like my legs, but going too short does not align with who I am right now. The Vince dress would be out of my comfort zone.

I had lunch recently with a petite colleague who is in her 50s, and she was wearing a short, sporty skirt. She looked fab. Like most things, it's just so individual.

Style Fan

Veteran

I would not show my midriff in public except when I am wearing my bathing suit. There is nothing wrong with it but I feel strange in that style at close to 60.
I do show my knees and prefer my skirts to be above the knee. It looks better on me.

Echo

Veteran

Personally, I am just unhappy with the way my knees look, but that has little to do with age or "appropriateness". I see nothing inappropriate about women of any age baring their knees, either in dresses and skirts or in shorts. It is other factors, to my eye at least, that make an outfit "too risque" or too "young" or too anything else. Knees showing, in and of themselves, are not the issue.

cloud9

Veteran

I was wondering the same thing. Are there "pretty" knees and "not so pretty" ones? I never gave them a second thought. As I get older though, it seems that my uneasiness with above knee skirt/dress have increased, solely due to amount of thigh being exposed when I sit (not a problem with legging/tights). I find myself prefer slightly longer skirts so that when i sit down, it either just covers the knee or just above.

deb

Veteran

I think all knees are fine just like upper arms. I believe it is an individuals personal feelings about their body parts showing that bring out the comments.

Anonymous

I don't think there's an age limit. I mean, I've *heard* there's an age limit, but I ignore it.

I think the limits have more to do with context, and how good the exposed body part looks.

Yes, I think some people have prettier knees than others...Same goes for necks, hands, feet...I've never noticed a beautiful elbow though

shedev

Veteran

I wear shorts a little above the knee, but too short of a skirt begins to feel awkward and I am self conscious about my movement. I've never really though of knees as something to show off, but we all have them. I have a scar on my right knee that forms the word hi. I got it when I was seven or eight years old. We were riding bikes on gravel and another kid crashed into me and sent me on a skid. After 40 years it is barely noticeable except the long part of the h.

sinead

I have to chime in here because this has been a battle lately. I'm 58, but have always had knees that aren't very attractive (evidently "bony and saggy" according to an ex) so I've been trying to find summer dresses that hit at the knee, not above. It has been very difficult. I am so much more comfortable with right-at-the-knee length, it's been worth it to me to keep looking.

However! I just bought a LOFT dress that is slightly above the knee, almost sent it back... and didn't. I need a damned dress! So I am going to try a 'it is what it is' attitude and just wear the thing. If people point and stare and horses are frightened- I'll reconsider.

catgirl

Veteran

How bad can knees be? Mine are scarred and often scraped and dry. But they are just joints, after all - I'm happy they still function!

I do see Kyle's point about a more grownup look but hadn't thought of knees as part of that equation - I find a short voluminous dress quite sophisticated, as is a longer fitted dress.

Anonymous

Rather than focusing on the appropriateness of a particular item of clothing or the exposure of knees, etc. my own guidelines are more about overall attractiveness, approachability, and expression of sexuality, which I think, best case scenario, should evolve as we age.

Anonymous

Yes, I do think that it's weird that I could find one knee joint nicer looking than another, but there ya go!

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Knee-lengths are just are random proxy for measuring modesty by which people abide. I don't think one's age or weight should have any bearing on what's appropriate. It bothered me when, at my former university, I heard law students complaining that Ms. X, a widely known, older, attractive law professor, wore mini-skirts. The skirts on younger women were fine, but on her, they were inappropriate. The norm should be consistent, but that would mean us having to confront aging in a celebratory and not fearful way.

Note also that the same skirt on individuals with the same inseam but different thigh-calf ratios will make the skirt appear more revealing on those with relatively longer thighs.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think it is very individual. I don't like very above the knee dresses on me (and it might be a deal breaker on the Vince dress when I get it). I still love them on you and others and maybe me sometimes. Age is not the determining factor. It is just how it looks - the person's style, the proportions of the dress, whatever goes into the final impression. Sounds like Kyle means at the place she is now she is going for a certain look - not due to her age per se.

dakotacheryl

Veteran

Knee baring is OK...midriff outside of resort wear...not so much!

Staysfit

Veteran

No age rules but I dislike the look of the bulging muscle over my knee, so I have always tried to wear skirts at mid kneecap level or lower if possible.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I say no age rules! I don't think women should worry about showing signs of age or a less than perfect body part in public. That said I do avoid revealing too many body parts at once and I also have a preference for not showing too much thigh. But that's just my personal preference and is more about my style and comfort levels than my age.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I don't think there are rules. I probably shouldn't have used the term age-appropriate. It's individual. My own knees are not my most attractive feature. I tend to collect flab there.

Also, I find midi lengths a bit more elegant as a rule than shorter skirts. Short skirts have a tendency to read as girlish. That's all. I'm in favour of all baring their knees who want to at any age. Ditto arms.

rachylou

Veteran

I don't think it's the knees. I think it's the clothes. Like shorts are ok, but I think a skater skirt is weird unless you can pass for 20. There's something Shirley Temple in Ruffled Underpants about the skater.

Anonymous

I agree with Rachy and others: some shorter skirts just read too young. The dress I posted the other day is pushing the above-knee limit for me, but the shape doesn't make it feel too young (though maybe it looks that way to others and I'm slipping into mutton territory). Yet I have a flippy skirt that I feel less sure of, despite its being slightly longer. One of the reasons I love Suz's Vince dress is the style. It's elegant and therefore age appropriate.

Peri

Veteran

I'm not sure I've ever seen "pretty knees". They just aren't that great looking on anyone, as far as looks go...knobby and funny and thick. I don't think it matters at all. I agree with Rachylou....the item itself can make showing them look juvenile or absolutely fine. And although I've had a bit of trouble with my left one, overall you are right...let's just be happy they still work! As far as showing mine...I think I want this dress.

White House Black Market

Layered Asymmetrical Dress

View Info

Top Pick

2

Aziraphale

Veteran

Here's the thing with knees. They DO age (just like the rest of the body!) and look different from a young woman's knees. That firmness that young skin has helps smooth out the bony lumps and bumps over the knee joint. The skin tend to get a little looser and weathered-looking as we age. Sometimes knees can get more sinewy, or if they were plump to begin with, then the plumpness sags. Eventually they get wrinkles, just like everywhere else. However, this doesn't bother me at all (on me or on anyone else -- after all, our faces get a lot wrinklier than our knees!) and I suspect it's not the only reason a woman might want to cover her knees as she gets older. I bet part of the reason is that short skirts tend to have a -- well, a girlish look. And after a certain age, saggy knees or not, a woman may not want to look girlish. That's the main reason I tend to wear longer skirts now. I have no embarrassment in baring my knees (I wear shorts all summer, even though my knees are aging like the rest of me!) but if I want to look put-together, I opt for an outfit that covers them.

tulle

Veteran

For me, at 64, it's a matter of proportion and dignity. My rules are for myself are: breezy Summer shifts with flats, or Winter ones with opaque tights can be above my knees by about an inch; most other things should hit at the knee or just below; deep decolletage, very low backs, and cut-outs are not for me now, either. It just feels natural to leave barer styles to my daughters, and aim for a more covered, but still sophisticated, look.

12 3