K/R/Alter Full Midi Skirt ETA New Pics Added - YouLookFab Forum

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K/R/Alter Full Midi Skirt ETA New Pics Added

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I'm intrigued by full skirts, but also bewildered:

What length should it be? Is it flattering on me as is? What boots/booties to wear with it? What tops? What toppers? In other words, I'm at loss here.

This skirt is an experiment to try this silhouette. What I love about it is the fabric (wool for Winter), and the color. The rest I'm more uncertain of.

What do you suggest I'd do with it? Keep it as is, alter it, or return? All comments, suggestions and information is very helpful, and I'm very grateful. Thanks for reading!

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Dressing

30 replies

Latest reply was from Ingunn

Sarah A

Veteran

I struggle with full skirts as well... I love the inverted pleat design here and the rich color. I would be tempted to advise about 3" shorter but I am not positive. Will look forward to seeing what others say!

Anonymous

Oh, Ingunn! Wow, the colour is lovely on you, and the pleating and drape of the wool is gorgeous.

I like it this length or perhaps slightly shorter?

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I will leave the length issue to the experts but have to say this is a gorgeous skirt - the color, drape and fit are lovely on you.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Oh, this is more positive reactions than I expected! Thank you I am leaning towards shortening it a little myself, 3-4" sounds like a reasonable estimate. Before I do anything I'd like to discuss it a little more, so I don't wreck anything.

I tried with a few toppers, but they looked wrong. I suppose short jackets are in order with this? Or long coats? I don't own any this long.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Colour is gorgeous, Ingunn. How much "movement" does it have? It feels a bit heavy as is, which could be rectified (perhaps) by shortening a bit, as you say.

I like your top, too!

Pawprints

With the caveat that my eye us still adjusting to the proportions of longer skirts, this skirt seems far too long for the volume and for you.

It is a gorgeous skirt in every way as a garment. It's not making you gorgeous, though you absolutely are.

Will there still be too much volume and weight once it's shorter? I don't have a good enough eye to guess. You probably know the answer to that for yourself.

If this was a lighter weight flowy or swishy or drapey fabric it might be great on you. As is, I think it takes a statuesque person to not have the skirt wearing you.

The wool is a selling point for you. Maybe a heavier woolen fabric is best in a narrower cut, whether long or shorter?

While I'm being contrary, there is something off color wise, too, to my eye, against your own coloring. I want to say its the skirt, but it seems the color ought to work for you. Is it the top? Sorry to be so unsure and also negative at the same time. If the colors feel great to you, then I'm sure they are.

Anonymous

With your winters it might be good to keep it long with tall boots for warmth. I could see a short boxy pullover like Eileen Fisher sells with this skirt, short enough to show your waist as you move. However, this may not be your style. Here is what I'm thinking of but there are less expensive versions out there.
http://www.eileenfisher.com/Ei.....cale=en_US
The skirt is gorgeous.

Day Vies

Veteran

I love the color especially with the leopard print. I would aim for either just below the knee or right at mid-calf. This looks like it's hitting you below the thickest part of your calf so with the boots it looks too heavy for my eye. I love full skirts but I prefer them with more refined foot wear because I think streamlining the foot with so much volume creates a balance. I can't wait to see what happens.
One more thing -- try this skirt at the current length with black tights and a black refined heel and decide then if you want to shorten. The footwear you choose most should determine the length of this skirt.

Astrid

Veteran

Oh, I love it! The pleats and the color are awesome. I would shorten it so that it ends just below the knee (midi for beginners), I think that's a very versatile and flattering length that's easy to wear. And that way you don't get overwhelmed by too much skirt.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

The skirt is beautiful, and I like it on you! The lines of it are gorgeous and flattering--the soft pleats, the fit at the waist, the A-line. I would say it needs to be shortened at least 3 or 4 inches. The idea, for me, would be to preserve the feel of a midi-skirt, covering the top of your boots, but without having the skirt take up nearly half of your height as it does now. (On my monitor, you are 4.25" from top of head to bottom of heel. The skirt is 2.125".) If you can get the skirt to be closer to 1/3 of your height, I think the proportions may be more pleasing.

I should add that I struggle so much with skirt lengths and proportions on myself, I hope you will take my suggestion into consideration with others. I feel pretty inept at these things, though I sometimes think my eye is better at finding the sweet spot on others than on myself!

jurocha

(website)

Veteran

I'm always dreaming of longer wool skirts during winter, but I find it extremely difficult to find a matching coat (I mean one that compliments/goes well with the skirt).

Though this skirt is beautiful, do you have suitable toppers? I find it easier to pull off the flared skirt + tall boots outfit if the skirts are shorter or same lenght as the outwear (which usually means knee lenght for the longer freezing winter coats!).

This lenght might not be ideal (as you yourself noted), but it doesn't disturb me if we are talking fall outfits (or as a before the first lasting snow outfits), when just a leather jacket or heavier blazer will do.

I am curious about this garment and the ways you are going to use it. Please keep us updated!

Diana

Veteran

Oh, I think it's beautiful as is! I think the length is so elegant. It will be perfect for winter too with tall boots. I actually wouldn't shorten it, because with a shorter length, I'd want to see leg between the skirt and boots (so you'd need an odd high-mid calf height boot), but with this length the covered leg looks perfect.

And I think a knee length or even miniskirt length coat is fine with this. I don't subscribe to the "coat should be as long as or longer than skirt" rule, in fact it always makes me feel like a flasher.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I like it as is with the boots - I'm afraid if you shortened it you'd end up in the length where you're hitting your calves at their widest part and I don't think that's flattering on anyone with a bulkier fabric skirt. Something that's flared as opposed to pleated at the waist like this is would be a little more slimming at the waist, but I think it's lovely as is, and the fabric and color are gorgeous. I can really see it with a (charcoal, cream, ?) sweater for the winter.

Missey

Veteran

Knee length would make the skirt look very fresh.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for all the input, ladies, I'll try to keep up! Before I start, I'd like to address my own to main issues with the skirt, as I see it now:

#1 The length, of course. It feels too long, and I will have to wear heels with it all the time. However, if I shorten it, I worry that it will turn into something girly, which I'm not interested in. IF I decide to shorten it a little, I have to be very careful not to ruin it.

#2 The excess fabric at the waist. I think the narrow waistband combined with a lot of excess fabric in the pleats make it more difficult to layer blazers and other toppers over it without adding to much bulk, which ruins the lean silhouette I'm hoping for. I'm not sure how to deal with that, yet. I tried with a few tops & toppers, and I wore my brown booties and black hose - what do you think?

Suz, the skirt is made from a drapey wool/poly blend. It has lovely movement to it. Thank you for mentioning my top - it's another recent find at the SA thrift store. I have to stop going there or I'll be buying far too much.

Pawprints, thank you for your gentle critique. You are pointing at the very same things that I find difficult to make up my mind about, too. The fabric has enough movement, and I wonder if shortening it would make it look more proportionate. The bulk problem remains, though.

Thank you, Joy, for loving the skirt! I will definitely try boxy, short sweaters, thank you for the beautiful example.

DV, always able to make it work! I love your idea of trying with dark hose and pumps, but I wear pumps so rarely that it would limit the number of wears considerably to base it on that. I tried, however, with hose and brown booties and quite liked it as is. What do you think?

Astrid, thank you for loving it, too! I think you are right, the below knee length is the most versatile. But will the skirt look more boxy then? It's difficult to know, and I don't want boxy. Maybe a little longer than that?

Firecracker, what you write makes so much sense. I will definitely keep it long enough to cover the top of my boots. 3-4" is what I've been thinking, too, and it would probably not ruin the silhouette.

Jurocha, thank you for loving the skirt. Have a look at the added photos. What do you think of the topper options? I don't have a coat this long, so either I'll have to shorten it, or I'll have to play up the contrast. I'm not sure it will look particularly elegant.

Diana, thank you for loving it, too! Why do you want to see some leg between the skirt and boot if the skirt is midi? I thought that it was the other way around. I only have the red coat, which is knee length and a daring color combo with this, but my old plaid blue/grey coat is a bit shorter and more fitted, so it could probably add some shape. I will definitely give it a try before I make up my mind. I agree, the coat mustn't always cover the skirt, even if that probably is the most elegant fashion.

Laura, my thoughts exactly. Have a look at the two last photos below - I've paired it with a silk/cotton cream t-shirt. What do you think? I agree that the color of the skirt is great with cream, and a wool sweater for winter in cream will be fab!

ETA: Missey, we double posted! Thanks for suggesting that, I can definitely see why you do that. I do worry that it will become boxy if I shorten it to the knees, but maybe it won't?

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Diana

Veteran

I'm not sure I explained the leg thing clearly. I have a strong preference for seeing the shape of the leg under a skirt if it is a certain length or shorter. For me that length is anywhere above the widest part of the calf (so a shorter midi or anything knee length or mini). I feel that a tall boot hides that inward curve somewhat and makes the leg appear too wide. If the skirt is longer (so, a long midi that hits at or below the wide part of the calf) it doesn't matter as much because there's no lovely curve to reveal, if that makes any sense. It's purely an aesthetic preference on my part, and in no way do you or anyone else have to adhere to it.

I like it with the blazers!

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, I can see what you mean. Do you want to shorten it yourself? If yes then you could always go slowly shorter and see where your sweet spot is. Better shorten it twice than too much at once! I really like it with the blazers, but especially with the green one! Green and purple is one of my favourite color combinations.

Anonymous

I like this a lot with the blazers too!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

The lining in the green blazer has exactly the same purple in the pattern as the color of the skirt. The weight of the fabrics are a good match, too, so these two are definitely a pair.

Diana, I get it! I agree, a shaped leg is much better than a thick and sticky one

Vildy

Veteran

I like it as is with the blazers. Why don't you try wearing it that way and make up your mind otherwise, if you even have to, as you go along? It's graceful.

Day Vies

Veteran

I love the skirt at this length with the tone on tone hose and boots. It works especially with the blazers. (you know how to take what you have and adapt it -- love that about you!) I like the gray and the green blazers with and without the scarf.
The blue blazer isn't my favorite the white trim seems to beg for clean lines. The hem is also longer and straight and so it does fight the volume of the skirt. The other blazers are shorter and have a curved hem so that your hip line isn't restricted.

cobaltblue

Veteran

Oh, I love this with the blazers and wouldn't shorten it an inch, personally. If this skirt were available here, I'd snap it up immediately. I hope this longer midi length gains traction.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I think I will try wearing it as is first, with the green and the grey blazer plus my denim jacket. Come Winter, I'll have to figure out what coat to wear over it.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Love the skirt. I'm voting for 2-3 inches shorter, so it's definitely still a midi, but I think the proportions suit your frame better.

As for jackets, I think shorter jackets that are fitted would work well, as would shorter sweaters. Tucked and belted is a good look for shirts, I think. As for coats, as long as the coat is deliberately shorter, I think it works!

L'Abeille

Veteran

Gorgeous skirt Ingunn!

I've had quite a sugar eye for full skirts lately, am wearing my pencils much less. The look I keep pinning on Pinterest is the skirt worn with a white shirt--much like your shirt in pic 1 for styling, but the clean crisp contrast of the white really sets off the skirt.

I love the silhouette of pic 2--the slightly fitted sort of riding jacket, like an equestrienne (wear it with boots and leather gloves maybe?)

Re the length I am less sure of my opinions. 2 or 3" shorter would give you more versatility for footwear options, and you could even try it with oxfords a la Astrid. Also try it with your booties, Can you pin the hem up 3" and take some pics just to see if you like the proportions better?

Deborah

Veteran

Ingunn it is a beautiful skirt. I struggle with style but more because I am not convinced it suits me Personally I would not shorten it. The length is one of the features of the dress IMHO.

This reminds me of the picture that Anna posted a day or two ago here
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ump-a-dump

I think you could potentially use this photo as inspiration for styling this skirt.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thank you ladies. I will try to have it pinned and take new pics sometime next week to assess the length. It would be wonderful to have Angie's opinion, too - this is a big leap from what I usually wear.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

The current length is growing on me. I ADORE the skirt with the chambray skirt and short boots in the added photos. I also think this shirt+skirt combo would be great with the tall boots. To Diana's point, to me, the tall boots work beautifully with the skirt because the boots are fitted and do show your leg shape. It wouldn't look as good to me with flat riding boots.
I'm less enamored of this skirt with the blazers, but not against them by any means. It's just that the shirt totally wowed me.

jurocha

(website)

Veteran

Green blazer and wool skirt wowed me!
(The gray is also OK, but I guess I would prefer it unbuttoned.)

Do you have La Redoute in Norway? It's a french online shop and they often carry long "Gehrock" (which Wikipedia just told me means "Frock coat" and it is a men's style: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frock_coat). I bought 2 last season in an attempt to take more use from my flared skirts, but now I wear then with anything... I just like them that much.

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