https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 10 Jun 2026 02:19:13 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-2778 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:09:05 +0000 Sarah 2778@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd say that ideal knee length definitely varies based on the particular garment. I'm not sure that I've found my perfect knee length yet, but I know that it seems to be different with A-line skirts vs. more straight or pencil skirts. It also seems to be different with dresses than with skirts for me, but I'm not sure about that. I guess this is why it seems so confusing. I think the most important thing seems to be trying on a variety of lengths though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-2730 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:00:33 +0000 Ana 2730@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the response, Maya! I do feel like the length isn't unflattering, specifically because it does taper. I was worried about exactly what you said, that it would just become a hip hugging piece of cloth. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-2725 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:56:35 +0000 Maya 2725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think the cut of the skirt can have a pretty big effect. I'm the same height as Sarah and my inseam is 31" which is freakishly long for a petite. I almost always buy my skirts above the knee, and I actually like wearing mini skirts (not micro-mini, but like so): <a href="http://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/browse/product.jsp?colorFamily=&#038;productId=300110002&#038;subCatId=&#038;catId=cat210023&#038;fromSearch=&#038;inSeam=" rel="nofollow">http://www.whitehouseblackmark.....38;inSeam=</a></p> <p>I know it seems weird to be self conscious about my thighs but totally comfortable in a mini skirt, but if it's A-line it's perfectly fine, and the rest of my legs are quite nice if I do say so myself.</p> <p>BUT I have to make an exception for pencil skirts. I don't know why--it probably has something to do with the way they accentuate the hips, but for some reason I need those to fall just below my knee. I suspect the same is true for you. Otherwise it just becomes a hip-hugging piece of cloth, and doesn't narrow out at the bottom the way it's supposed to, which isn't flattering. </p> <p>If a skirt has more volume, like an A-line, I usually let it fall about mid-knee or just below as well. Somehow I feel like showing my knees in a more voluminous skirt makes me look like a little girl. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-2716 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:35:55 +0000 Ana 2716@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a new question about knee length. Is your "ideal knee length" the same no matter what the garment? For instance, I know that my best knee length is right above my knee, so the knee cap shows a bit (I have short legs). I just bought a denim pencil skirt, and I was wondering whether I should hem it or not. It falls right below my knee where my calf meets the back of my knee. The only concern I have about hemming it is that since it's a pencil skirt, would that interrupt the long slimming line of the item? If were to shorten it, it would hug my hips and then hit my knee--would that make me look bottom heavy? I'm a pretty traditional hourglass, I'd say--I don't want to throw things out of balance. Thanks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-2457 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:52:47 +0000 Sarah 2457@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I have long legs Nicole. I'm 5'2" with a 29" inseam (with no shoes). My mom is 5'5" and also has a 29" inseam. And I am short-waisted. From my crotch to the bottom of my knee is 14 1/2 inches, bottom of the knee to the ankle is about 12 1/2 inches. My knees are small, as are my ankles. I have curvy calves for someone so skinny, so I'm not sure where my best length is. I guess I'll have to just keep trying things on. Right now I have a closet full of skirts, but I'm not sure I really like most of them. Mostly they are ankle length with a couple mid-calf that look awful on me and one just above the knee. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-2390 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:38:10 +0000 Nicole 2390@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh my! 4" above your knee? You must have very long legs! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-2357 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:58:53 +0000 Sarah 2357@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you all for the advice! I'm petite (5'2") with long legs and a short top half. I've noticed that certain ankle length shirts I have tend to make my legs look even longer and my top half ridiculously short. That may also have to do with the length of the short top I was wearing though. Back to knee length though. My legs are slim, long and shapely. I do have defined calves despite the fact that my legs are too thin for all pants I've tried on that fit in the hips. I have found that skirts that hide my calves make my legs look short and stick thin. Skirts 4 inches or so above my knees, on the other hand, make my legs look chubby. I guess I'll have to keep trying things on the find the right length. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-1848 Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:27:31 +0000 Angie 1848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I couldn't have said it better myself Antje. Indeed, you have the best calves and showing them is a good strategy! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-1846 Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:22:25 +0000 AntjeH 1846@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One thing that Angie taught me is to make sure the skirt doesn't hide the nicest part of your leg. My calfs are kinda nice, so I tossed out longer skirts and shortened my capris; now nothing goes below the part where the calf starts curving out (I'm sure I'm not describing this right, sorry...)<br /> The point is that you wanna make sure to accentuate the parts of your body you actually like, rather than only focusing on hiding the ones you don't. A liberating concept </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-1816 Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:08:31 +0000 Nicole 1816@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think Ana Elizabeth has a good point. The objective with skirt length is to make your leg look in proportion to the rest of your body. If you have short legs and a long torso, then wearing you skirt above the knee will make your legs look longer. (As will wearing a higher waist, if your long waisted). If you have long legs, but a short waist, then wearing your skirt lower, will make your waist look longer and your legs look more in proportion to your body. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-1814 Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:00:17 +0000 Angie 1814@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Super advice Becky. Your knee length depends on your height, leg shape, knee shape and clothing size. Generally, if you’re short (5ft 2 and below) you’ll want to wear your skirts a little shorter on the knee. I’m 5 ft 6 and my best skirt length is just over the knee. I have straight shapeless legs (no calf) and a skinny ankles, and a longer hemline gives my leg a bit of curve. </p> <p>Your skirt length looks great on on just above the knee AnaElizabeth. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-1803 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:24:30 +0000 Becky 1803@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think discovering the correct "knee length" may just require a lot of trying on different lengths to see how they look. I must have tried on 25 or 30 different skirts just the other day, and I've decided that right at the middle of the knee or just above is right for me. Anything longer looks frumpy and makes my legs look thicker. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-1794 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:29:27 +0000 AnaElizabeth 1794@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm...that's a good question, I was kind of wondering the same thing. I'm not sure, but it might have to do with how long your legs are. For instance, I'm 5'4" but I feel like my legs are really short in comparison with the rest of my body because most of my height is in my torso (boo!). Anyway, I feel like the best length for me is at or just above the knee, because it just makes my legs look a bit longer, and look more proportional with the rest of my body. I could be wrong though. :)</p> <p>Does anyone know for sure? I would be interested in knowing as well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/finding-my-%e2%80%9cknee-length%e2%80%9d#post-1778 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:03:47 +0000 Sarah 1778@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’ve heard Angie and others talk about knee length skirts and walk shorts a lot on this site, saying that everyone has a different “knee length” that looks good on them. How do you find out what that length is? Are there a set of rules for finding your “knee length,” or do you just try on different skirts/shorts and choose the length that looks best? </p>