Midi is not for me... - 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

Midi is not for me...

rute

Veteran

Note: please ignore the awful shoes, I returned those!

I'm starting to think I should give up on midi skirts and dresses. I loved this zara dress on the store and asked to do the hem (as you all suggested some time ago), as I'm petite.
I asked for 3 inches bellow the knees and this was what I got.
I took a photo to see how it looks and hated, it looks frumpy. I tried to style with a leather jacket and even so, I don't like it. The flowers aren't helping.. I look a bit "old lady".
Any ideias on the styling?
Should I hem it to hit the knee?
Some years ago, I bought a red midi skirt and wore it only 3 times, maybe it's on my mind, but I think midi are not for this petite..

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from Sara L.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Umm...you do not look old lady to me at all. I think it's the shoes and not the dress here. Can you try it with your taller shaft zara booties once? Also, try it with knee high boots; I remember one of Angie's options of wearing boots & skirts paired OTK boots with midis....but I believe knee high boots will provide similar proportions here.

If you still hate the dress after trying all footwear options, definitely get it hemmed to knee length. Better to have a dress you wear than throw away money, because the print looks very pretty.

Anonymous

Something is off with the proportions here. The shoes definitely don't work. I like Manny's suggestion to try knee high boots. Maybe ones with a bit of a heel? If you still aren't keen on the dress length after trying that I would hem it to knee height.

Anonymous

It doesn't look terrible, but it all comes down to how you feel wearing it. If the length makes you feel frumpy then it is a major problem. Is it possible to have it hemmed a second time? If so, that is the direction I would move.

I am 5'10" and I don't wear midi-length either. Midi's make me feel frumpy (almost matronly). The one exception is when I wear them with knee length boots. That seems to help, but still ......

Debora

Veteran

It's such a pretty dress, Rute, and you always look amazing in everything. I think it's the shoes that are throwing me off. Another vote to try different footwear options. You'll always have the option of hemming it shorter if you still aren't satisfied. Keep us posted!

Cococat

Veteran

The dress looks really nice on you rute. I agree with others, the shoes are making the proportions look a bit off. I think it would look better with a cleaner look for your footwear. I wear my midi skirts with simple pointed toe flats or heels.

Joy

Veteran

You have beautiful legs but the dress looks like it is hitting at the widest part of them. That may be making you feel frumpy.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Maneera and Joy. I love the dress but I think the shoes are really throwing off the viewers' eye. I would try different shoes and then maybe hem an inch or two to a more flattering spot on the leg.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Rute, you'd look amazing in anything! But it's the shoes that are throwing you off here.

Also -- take this with a huge grain of salt -- but as another "on the short and petite" side person (I'm not technically petite but at 5'4" I am borderline...) I find that midis tend to work best on me in two styles:

A TUBE skirt that tapers towards the bottom (this usually means somewhat body con knit).

Or a FULL pleated skirt.

A-lines seem hardest for me. If I want to wear an A-line midi, I usually have to go for a low vamp or very low contrast (nude to me) shoe.

Also, just an inch or two below my knees seems to be the sweet spot. I've never actually measured and just eyeball it, but even fractions of inches make a difference when we have so little leg real estate! For my short calves, 3 inches below the knee would be too much.

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It's all about the shoes that aren't working. Try your heeled black booties.

Tina

Veteran

I agree with the others, the shoes are really throwing off the proportions. Also, the length now falls at the widest part of your calves, in the picture (because of your stance) the left side falls just a wee bit lower than your right. To me the right side is a better length. Midis, especially full skirts, are very tricky in my opinion. A dress shoe with a heel is likely your best option if you are after pleasing proportions.
It is a fun dress that looks great on you. I like it paired with the moto. I don't see any reason that you can't make this work in such a way that you feel good wearing it.

Diana

Veteran

I kind of love it, Rute. Shoes and all. I would wear this. Yeah, different shoes would be maybe more flattering but not as interesting, and I definitely think it's JFE.

viva

Veteran

I think it's a look as it is. But it doesn't really remind me of you, Rute. I would love to see this dress, with the jacket, and heeled booties (mid-calf?) I think you might feel differently about it then.

Isabel

Veteran

Rute, I agree with the others. The dress is lovely , I think it is the combination with the shoes that is the problem.

Abraços !

Sara L.

Veteran

I have problems with midi skirts as well. The shoes are one problem here but it might just be something you don't care to wear. I need to wear mine with heels but sometimes I still feel a little frumpy.