Your pants to skirt & dress ratio

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Your pants to skirt & dress ratio

— by Angie

on July 18, 2008

Fashion designer and style icon Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel (1883-1971) revolutionized women’s fashion. It was her daring 1930’s trouser designs that made pants and pant suits a stylish, everyday alternative for lasses like us. Coco Chanel gave us the freedom to wear pants.

I can’t imagine my wardrobe without jeans, pants and cropped pants. They are the quintessential practical solution. As much as I like to throw dresses and skirts into the mix, I’m in pants more often. It’s probably a 70:30 split in favour of pants. The ratio might be closer to 50:50 if the weather co-operated. I wear skirts more frequently in Autumn and Winter because I can match them with hose and knee-high boots.

I have friends and clients who prefer to wear skirts and dresses. In fact, some of them never wear pants or jeans. My impression is that they are in the minority. What’s your ratio? I’ll bet most of you wear pants, jeans and cropped pants more often than skirts and dresses. Surprise me.

The cover on the left shows Coco Chanel inspired trouser designs. They’re a little short in length, but I’ll cut Coco some slack. I’m grateful she liberated women’s fashion. I enjoyed the biography of Coco Chanel on the right. Although I appreciate many different design houses, Chanel has always been my favourite. Also, Coco and I share the same obsession for pearls.

Individual Style

61 comments · Add a comment

'Liz

Ha! I’m assuming some sarcasm in your promise to “cut Coco some slack.”

I probably have just about equal amounts of dresses/skirts to slacks, with slacks just slightly edging ahead. I love my skirts, though, and find that they are so much more polished and versatile.

July 18, 2008 at 6:23 am

Joy

My split is more like 80/20 in favor of pants, maybe 90/10 in the winter. Although I love skirts, my daily lifestyle includes stopping at Curves while out running errands and, during the school year, having to be able to sit on the floor with children. For that I’ve tried longer skirts but end up tripping on them trying to get up quickly.

July 18, 2008 at 6:33 am

Wendy from New york

I wear pant 98% of the time, only wear dress or skirt at wedding party, and i m not the only one, most people around me wear dress only on special occasion.
Is that weird?

July 18, 2008 at 6:40 am

LauraElizabeth

My split is about 95:5, since I am nearly always in pants. I only have a two skirts that are appropriate for work by length, and two shorter ones that I had bought for going out but have never worn. It’s sad! I’d love to wear skirts more, especially with boots!

July 18, 2008 at 6:47 am

Monica

I only wear skirts and dresses in the summer, can’t stand to be in pants during the hot months of the year…besides that, I’m not confortable with tights and pantyhose, so that leaves skirts and dresses ou of the question for the cold months, during which I wear mostly jeans and black trousers!

July 18, 2008 at 6:58 am

Rhonda

My wardrobe is probably 65:35 in favor of pants, jeans, cropped pants, and shorts. I’ve been adding more dresses and skirts the past few years, because they are much cooler to wear in the hot, humid summer of Florida. Lined dress pants and jeans are impossible in the daytime. Yesterday I put on jeans, walked outside, went back in and changed. It was like an oven. So, the resurgence of skirts and dresses with no hose is wonderful for us!

July 18, 2008 at 7:00 am

debra densie

(website)

Surprise!!! 90% Dresses and Skirts…rest Jeans, rarely slacks…..

July 18, 2008 at 7:01 am

Susan H.

I live in the hot and humid South, and I love knee-length summer skirts. In warm weather my ratio is about 65:35 in favor of skirts. In cool weather it’s about 75:25 in favor of pants — I hope to expand more into skirts this upcoming season.

July 18, 2008 at 7:13 am

Tanya

Well, no surprise from me either. On the warm months May-September it’s 60:40 for the pants/jeans/clamdiggers vs. skirts/dresses. The rest of the year it’s pretty much 90:10 I’m afraid.

July 18, 2008 at 7:15 am

Fran

Ah HA! I would guess that my wardrobe consists of 95% skirts and dresses, no trouser-type pants, and a couple of pairs of casual pants. For work, it’s 100% skirts. I’m a lawyer and I’ve spent many hours in court waiting for my cases to be called observing women in suits (with trousers) arguing their cases. Unless they are teeny-tiny, the female lawyers in pants just don’t look that good from the back. Lots of visible panty line. I also wish these lawyers would wear suits with longer jackets so I don’t have to look at their buttocks.

Am I weird?

I think skirts are WAY more comfortable than Jeans, and would rather wear a skirt any day–I think it looks more flattering on me.

July 18, 2008 at 7:17 am

Kathy

(website)

I guess I go against the grain here. I’ve worn pants once since April or thereabouts. In the winter I’m probably around 80:20 skirts to pants.

July 18, 2008 at 7:17 am

Lori

I actually own more pants 60/40 split but I tend to wear more skirts and dress because I feel they look better on me. I’m petite with large hips, so I have a harder time finding pants that flatter me.

July 18, 2008 at 7:30 am

Wendy

(website)

My closet is somewhat schizophrenic. In summer I am rarely in anything but dresses and skirts (although I do have a pantsuit (cropped) and two pairs of fairly dressy shorts). Come fall and winter jeans and dress pants rule the wardrobe.

July 18, 2008 at 7:35 am

Joelle

More than a year ago my pants:skirts ratio was about 10:90. I was quite overweight at the time and pretty much lived in a collection of ankle-length stretch tube skirts in dark colors with longer tops. I’m 5’10” so long skirts look good on me, plus they were very comfortable and more forgiving in fit than pants. I was going for a very tall, column-like look so I would look slimmer. Now that I’ve lost about 1/2 the weight I want to lose, the ratio is more like 25:75. Once I hit goal weight it will probably be 50:50. Of course that is assuming I can find pants that are the right length and fit. I find it more difficult to shop for pants than skirts because you have to be fussier about the fit in order for pants to look right.

July 18, 2008 at 7:46 am

Sarah

I’m one of the oddballs. I currently have 7 dresses and 12 skirts, vs. one pair of khakis, three pairs of jeans and two pairs of walk shorts that I would wear in public. (The other 3 pairs of jeans are for the garden only, so they don’t count.) In the spring and summer, I wear skirts and walk shorts almost exclusively. 90 degrees plus is much too hot for jeans. My main difficulty is finding tops that are short enough to wear with skirts. I’ve seriously considered hemming some of my summer tops. In the winter, the ratio tips more in the other direction. It’s almost impossible for me to find pants that fit me, but I still stick mostly to pants in the winter months.

July 18, 2008 at 7:53 am

Munequita

I’m a pants and denim girl at heart. I find these so comfortable and easy to run around in. Not surprisingly my closet is full of these and walking shorts.

I love skirts and dresses too, and I actually think they are easier to pull a look together with, but these come out for the summer and for special occasions mostly. I don’t know why??? I think maybe because I am so little and petite, it is hard for me to find dresses that are my style and that fit. Pants are more easily tailored.

July 18, 2008 at 7:57 am

tiffany

85:15 for me, probably. I have only a couple of dresses/skirts I wear during the week; other than that, dresses or skirts are for church and special occasions. San Antonio culture is pretty casual, so even for a dinner out it is more appropriate to dress up a pair of jeans with a nicer blouse and heels.

July 18, 2008 at 7:58 am

Teri

I’m 95% of the time in dresses and skirts. i’m petite and finding a fitting pair of pants is hard. My pairs have all been altered. I do not own a pair of jeans. Never like jeans, they’re too warm for the tropical weather here. I wear shorts and casual pants only on weekends just hanging out with friends and family.

July 18, 2008 at 8:02 am

Sarah P

My ratio is probably 90:10 – even in the summer. I’d rather wear burmuda shorts than a dress.

July 18, 2008 at 8:08 am

Ana Ortiz

Even though my ratio might be 50/50 I have to recognize that I feel more confortable wearing slacks. The only reason why I have that many dresses and/or skirts is because I love the feeling of feminity to it.

July 18, 2008 at 8:16 am

Lissie

My ratio is probably 90:10 in favor of skirts. I am not crazy about dresses, but I love my skirts! I adore jeans, but rarely find trousers that are comfortable or fit well. I think I currently have two pairs of trousers that I really like.

July 18, 2008 at 8:34 am

Debbie

I am more of a 50/50 person. I love skirts, and I also love little summer shifts. I make a new one each spring and try to retire the oldest one. (They go way back!) They are always in style and I enjoy shopping for the fabric in the spring after checking out new color trends. I teach junior high, so although I am not “on the floor” like Joy, I do tend to wear more pants throughout the school year although I still find skirts so comfortable and versatile.

July 18, 2008 at 8:36 am

Meredith

Fran–your entry cracked me up!! Yes, indeed we should be a bit conscious of what we look like from behind if people are going to staring at our backsides for hours on end. Maybe you could become a new kind of judge in the courtroom: you could hold people’s panty lines in contempt of fashion!

July 18, 2008 at 8:46 am

Meg from All About Appearances

(website)

I’m still a skirt gal. My number of dresses has declined a bit, but I still hardly ever wear pants. I can’t remember the last time I wore pants outside the house unless you count yoga pants on neighborhood walks or capris to garden in.

On the other hand, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of my roommates in a skirt. She’s got the legs to really pull of pants, though, while I feel like skirts are more flattering on me since they let me hide my thighs.

July 18, 2008 at 8:47 am

Sal

(website)

If I can avoid pants, I do. In fact, if MN winters weren’t so beastly, I’d wear skirts year-round, every day. But when the wind chill takes it down to 45 below, it’s long underwear and trousers.

My split is probably 70-30 in favor of skirts. And I’ll admit to loving my jeans on the weekend.

July 18, 2008 at 8:49 am

Jennifer

(website)

Skirts! Skirts! Skirts! My ratio is 5:95 pants to skirts/dresses.

skirts are more comfortable, less sweaty and chafing in summer. In winter like Angie, I love skirts and knee boots. I’m a stay-at-home mom and I can do pretty much anything in a skirt or dress (except fitness of course). I feel more pulled-together in a denim skirt than in jeans.

July 18, 2008 at 8:57 am

Debbie M

Very interesting. My wardrobe is biased towards skirts and dresses probably 60:40 if you count shorts in the pants category. However, the ratio of time spent in skirts and dresses versus pants and shorts is probably more like 5:95.

I love dresses and skirts, but when it’s time to get dressed, I’m always in the mood to be comfortable. And I feel like most comfortable shoes look better with pants than with skirts. (If my stupid toenail fungus ever gets cured, I’ll start wearing sandals again, and then maybe I’ll go to a 20:80 ratio–still low because my office is way too over-air-conditioned to leave my naked toes hanging out.)

Currently I wear dresses only to dress up (when I’m willing to sacrifice comfort) and to go dancing or to dance class (because it’s more fun with a whooshy skirt).

I’m thinking it’s time to pare down my dress/skirt collection to make room for more pants. I really have just enough pants to last me through the week. And that’s partly because they’re hard to find pants that fit and partly because I wear them out more quickly (since I wear them more). Interesting.

July 18, 2008 at 9:13 am

Wendy

I’m a student and my ratio between pants (usually jeans): dresses/skirts is about 90:10 all year round. I live in the northeast and it gets really cold really fast so winter I wear pants 100% of the time. But come summer the pants:dresses/skirts ratio goes to 75:25 or so. It’s mostly about what the weather permits and what’s easiest for me. I’m quite sure this will change once I enter the workplace though.

July 18, 2008 at 9:50 am

brklyngrl

Here in Brooklyn its dresses and skirts all summer (probably 80% of the time), because I don’t care for shorts and its too hot for pants, but pants in the winter, unless its warm enough for tights and boots. Spring and Fall is more of a even mix.

July 18, 2008 at 10:45 am

Nicoleb

I guess it depends on the days activities. I love to wear dresses in the summer. But if i’m romping around with my son it’s just more practical to wear shorts or capris. I rarely wear skirts because i have that shirt dilemma most of the time.

So maybe 40:60 in favor of pants? Or more accuretly shorts/capris.

In the fall/winter i pretty much never wore skirts or dresses but i’m hoping to change that this year with lots of pretty tights!

July 18, 2008 at 10:47 am

thalia

It depends on what I”m doing during the day, but I’d say in the summer, I wear skirts and dresses about 75% of the time. In the fall, maybe 50%. In the winter I switch to pants about 95% of the time.

July 18, 2008 at 11:08 am

Rachel

I read all the time, but never comment. I have to come out of the closet for this one!!! I wear skirts and dresses 100% of the time…I don’t even own a pair of pants.

I find them much cooler in the summer (nothing like a knee-length skirt and a pair of sandals!) and with tights underneath, I find them warmer than pants in the winter.

All around, I just like skirts better!

July 18, 2008 at 11:09 am

Inge

Aha, a book suggestion, that’s right up my alley;-)

At the moment it’s still about 90:10 in favour of trousers for me, but I’m working on that. The fact that I live in Western Europe with lots of cold months has something to do with this of course, plus I feel the cold very easily and automatically seem to go for trousers at the slightest hint of a breeze…

As I’ve said on the forum before : I actually really love skirts and dresses, I’m just finding it difficult to find the right ones, but I’ve learned quite a bit since I found YLF and understand better now what will look good or not. Now I’m really looking forward to a winter season full of dresses and skirts with boots!

July 18, 2008 at 12:25 pm

Miss Britt

(website)

I’m a 50:50 split – especially during the hot Florida summers. Skirts and dresses are the easiest way to look like you tried without spending too much time… trying.

July 18, 2008 at 12:38 pm

Ana

I used to never wear dresses or skirts when I lived in Idaho, and now I find myself turning to them more here in the Texas summers. I’m sort of picky though, so I don’t have too many yet. I think I probably prefer dresses over skirts and separates, because it’s just one thing to put on and think about–very convenient. I’ll probably grow my dress wardrobe in the coming years.

July 18, 2008 at 12:50 pm

Patience

spring/summer: 75:25, pants to skirts
fall/winter: 90:10 pants to skirts

July 18, 2008 at 12:54 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thank you, ladies. You see! Ratios are still heavily weighted towards pants, jeans and cropped pants. But lovely that many of you recognize the fabness of skirts and dresses. They are the quintessential feminine choice (excluding Scottish blokes who look killer in kilts).

July 18, 2008 at 4:01 pm

Nan

Skirts and dress – I rarely wear pants. Even in the winter I will put on tights and boots with my skirts or dresses. I am very girly!

July 18, 2008 at 4:32 pm

Anne

(website)

I’m a skirt and dresses girl. I haven’t put on a pair of pants for daily wear since the warm Wisconsin weather arrived. I am longing to finally try the skirt+boots look this fall/winter since I really don’t want to get back into those pants!

July 18, 2008 at 4:36 pm

Lulu

Dresses 50% of the time and skirts 30% of the time. The last 20% I wear jeans. This is because (1) I tend to carry weight in my inner thighs, which means pants need to be of extremely good fabric and cut to be flattering and (2) my legs are an asset to be flaunted. When I need to run errands or walk a lot, I wear A-line dresses/skirts. In winter I pair skirts with boots.

July 18, 2008 at 5:34 pm

QuiteLight

I’m 97% pants, but I’m working on it. Ever since one of my co-workers mentioned how much cooler pants were in the summer, I’ve been making an effort to wear them more often. I’m put off by a) pantyhose & b) finding acceptable flats. Like Joelle, I’m 5’10”, so I don’t want to hear about my height all day if I wear heels. Plus, I never wear heels, so I don’t find them comfortable beyond a 1/2 hr.

Finding pants that are long enough in my price range is brutal, but sometimes I get lucky. Still worried my new jeans look like floods, but I was almost in tears after 2 hrs trying on jeans & settled for the best of the rest.

And they don’t flip up on my motorcycle.

July 18, 2008 at 5:59 pm

QuiteLight

Whoops, how much cooler SKIRTS were. Typo.

July 18, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Jo-Lynne (Musings of a Housewife)

(website)

I’m ALL about pants. I’m probably 90/10.

July 18, 2008 at 7:35 pm

Cindy

70:30 in favour of shorts/cropped pants/jeans. I like skirts too, but I just happen to wear more pants because you don’t have to be as conscious.

July 19, 2008 at 1:46 am

JuliAnna

My ratio has always been 5:95 (pants/dresses+skirts). I think that for women who are long-waisted, short-legged with a tiny waistline and small bust, dresses and skirts are wonderful clothes! Pants just emphasize your short legs if you don’t wear them with high-heel shoes…

July 19, 2008 at 8:06 am

seashell

About 50:50 here, with dresses\skirts peaking in summer and in cold weather (because I love knee high boots, which basically leaves me with two options – skirt or skinny jeans)

By the way, the ladies who find pantyhose uncomfortable – there is another way. It won’t work in winter, though. Stockings! Some have stay up silicone tops, some can be worn with a garter belt (nowadays those belts are very delicate and sexy, nothing like those huge “grandma” constructions). They are sexy and when it’s warm but you need a formal outfit, they will provide some coolness. They are financially practical just like socks if you buy several similar paits – if one gets a hole, there is no need to throw both out.

July 19, 2008 at 8:37 am

Stephanie

80% skirts and dresses, 20% pants.

I finally gave myself permission to not worry about pants because shopping for them has made me break down on more than one occasion. Why torture myself?

July 19, 2008 at 11:06 am

Jayne

I don’t own a single pair of pants! But here in Sydney it’s the middle of winter and I can still get by with a summer frock, a cardigan and perhaps even a scarf if it gets really super-duper cold (like, below 20 degrees celcius). I’m not a skirt person either – it’s all about the dress (one-piece dressing is so easy and means I only have to wash half as many things!)

July 20, 2008 at 3:19 am

Shar

I prefer pants to skirts in colder seasons, but in warmer weather I usually balance between shorts and skirts–the balance is usually quite skewed, it depends more on my mood. However, skirts are more easily shopped for, I’m usually more picky when it depends on shorts or pants. Dresses are also really hard to shop for, I don’t know why, I’m very picky with them. But, apparently according to my astrology sign, I should prefer dresses over shorts–and I do prefer shorter dresses to shorts in Summer.

http://galadarling.com/article.....-aesthetic

July 20, 2008 at 9:16 am

Lisa

Hi – I used to wear dresses and skirts more than slacks, but they have allowed us to wear jeans now to work ( they changed the dress code as an incentive to retain employees- Hah! more $ might work too)- Now I wear PPL dark jeans- I am trying to build my whole wardrobe over since coming to the forum- I’ve given LOTS away
ANgie- Coco is my idol- I have named cats after her- Tommy gace me that bio that you posted – what an inspiration she is!
I am so glad that you appreciate her as well. WHat did you think of what the changes that Karl Lagerfeld made in the early to mid nineties?
There is nothing like the House of Chanel- it makes me sick that they even call that mess of Beyonce’s mother “The House of Dereon”- ridiculous

July 21, 2008 at 5:05 pm

Linda

Skirts, skirts, skirts. With bare legs and sandals in summer, tights and boots in winter. (Lack of footwear in between these extremes is one of the many reasons for my aversion to pants.) In addition to my untold numbers of skirts and one or two dresses, I do have one pair of semi-decent jeans, one pair of fashionless ones, one pair of lightweight wool trousers, and a pair of just-below-knee-length shorts-like things that I’ve been wearing some on weekends. But shopping for jeans and trousers is torture (heavy thighs and calves + curved waist that makes most of them gap) and I do not feel cute in them. Shopping for skirts is fun and I can’t have enough of them!

July 22, 2008 at 9:20 am

Julia

85/15 in favor of skirts.
Skirts all the way – different lengths, sizes, and colors! I have around 40 pairs in my closet – and I do wear a majority of them. I love the variety and femininity and swish around my legs.
Pants have been very hard to fit until last year when I discovered curvy, bootcut jeans. Where have they been hiding these!
I only own a couple dresses, mostly because I dislike having to find a cami and a jacket/cardigan to wear with what should a one-piece outfit. But again, this year I have found a couple flattering and comfortable don’t-need-17-more-pieces dresses! good times!
Linda – where did you find your long shorts?

July 22, 2008 at 10:05 am

Linda

Julia, I got them at Anthropologie, of all places (so many of their clothes seem made for tiny sprites–I was surprised). The brand is Sitwell.

July 22, 2008 at 11:35 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ah ha. A few skirt and dress wearing surprises. Nice!

July 22, 2008 at 7:56 pm

TouTou

I grew up a tomboy so pants were my thing but because of my figure, tiny top and apple bottom, it’s very difficult finding pants that fit. Skirts are also a challenge so i resort to purchasing those when i travel. Dresses work for me best. I have come to the conclusion that i will have to stop being lazy and make my own clothes.

July 25, 2008 at 1:14 pm

Christine

I much prefer skirts and dresses but often all you can find are very plain, suiting type skirts. On the other hand, I loathe jeans for anything other than dog walking, and find pants hard to fit. I’m about 60/40 dresses (and skirts) to pants.

Interesting topic!

August 1, 2008 at 9:31 am

dirk

My wife has gradually turned to wearing skirts all the time, she has the body shape which means jeans are hard to fit her..she wears below knee or on the knee a line skirts and I think she looks so much better in a skirt, I m not being chauvanistic at all or old fashioned, people should wear what they want but most women do look better in a skirt than trousers in mnay different ways

December 29, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Lisa

100% skirts and dresses here. I love vintage fashions from the 1940s and 1950sand dress accordingly everyday and pants on women were a rare thing during this period. Also, my husband is an old-fashioned gentleman who doesn’t like me in pants. I’m old -fashioned too and don’t mind a little chauvanism at all. : )

March 10, 2009 at 5:40 am

Frenchie

Active Member

I only have 2 pair of pants but had a lot of skirts. Unfortunately, I lost some weight so I only have two skirts now and I’m obliged to wear pants more often.

November 15, 2009 at 8:37 am

PaulH

I am from the UK I can perhaps also be forgiven for referring to pants trousers. And as a non cross dressing male you can guess my trousers to skirts ratio! However, from observation I would say that the ratio amongst women these days is generally 80:20 in favour of trousers, which saddens me as I remember a time when it was the other way round and preferred it that way.

Being a Gentleman, I could never be as unkind as Fran when it comes to commenting upon the quality of the posteriors of the average female lawyer, but I agree wholeheartedly with her view that females simply don’t look good in trousers. Sure, I can see why many women prefer the convenience of trousers, but I will always argue that women look better in skirts.

Reading through the above posts it is nice to see that there are still women out there who wear skirts 75% of the time or more and I particularly salute those ladies here who are members of the 90-100% club. How I wish there were more of you!

April 19, 2010 at 12:19 pm

Ashley

Another oddball vintage gal here, I wear skirts and dresses 100%. I don’t even own a single pair of pants anymore. I don’t even wear pants around the house, I wear housedresses, and in bed I wear nighties. I guess that’s old fashioned, but I’m pretty old fashioned too.

February 1, 2013 at 2:55 pm

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