YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Skirt lengths

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Skirt lengths https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 04 Apr 2026 06:05:38 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Von on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216391 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 17:11:21 +0000 Von 1216391@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think if your body shape works with shorter skirts, then you should definitely try it -- mine on the other hand absolutely does not.  I have muscular thighs + a shapely behind...I cannot wear anything above the knee if it's flouncy at all. Because of my shape, skirts in the back do not rest flat against the back of my legs, I have a huge skirt gap, and they are really quite drafty, and the first tiny breeze (or brisk walk) will send my skirt flipping up, and me over to the fashion confessionals post! Biker shorts don't like me either (I won't bore you with my stories of how they make sausage legs when they roll up when I walk!). Anything above my knee creeps back up my thighs like crazy.  I bought a full skirt the other day online and I'm praying it's as long as they say it is.  If it doesn't come below my knees in front AND in back, I'm going to be so sad! I follow Sally, but I must say, she wears all lengths, and I think her tights make it more acceptable.  The gray one would be definitely a tunic on me...and not with tights either, with some skinny jeans or something.   Aziraphale on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216385 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 17:08:13 +0000 Aziraphale 1216385@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Haha. This has turned into a discussion of, as Mo puts it, the age-skirt-length-police.  For the record, I wear short skirts, and I'm 41. I don't wear them when I want to look sophisticated, though. I also don't wear ones as short as the one Sally's wearing that MaryK linked to. I agree that that one's a long tunic, although with the very heavy tights and boots she's wearing, I don't think she looks indecent. As to age appropriateness -- well, that's a matter of opinion, as the comments demonstrate! Gigi, I just realized I didn't answer part of your question. Yes, absolutely, the type of skirt makes a difference. A super-short, flippy a-line skirt has a much greater potential to look silly (and cause inadvertent flashing of the lady parts) than a structured straight one! I don't know if the shape of the skirt has an effect on the golden rule though. I guess it might.  As to Sally's comment about mid-thigh skirts messing with the golden rule or something -- I don't think she can make a generalization about that. Sure, that hem length may muck with her proportions, but it probably doesn't muck with yours. Sally's thighs are much fuller than her calves, so that each leg forms an inverted cone shape. I can see how cutting them off halfway up the thigh would be less flattering on her. You, on the other hand, describe yourself as a short, slender gamine. Sounds like your legs are made for mid-thigh mini skirts.  I also don't totally trust Sally's judgment when it comes to proportions and figure flattery, so I'd take what she says with a grain of salt. shiny on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216309 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 15:06:30 +0000 shiny 1216309@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think Sally looks just fine in both outfits, though I wouldn't say they are her best looks. And I agree it's something to do with proportions, not age appropriateness. I say this because my college-aged daughters routinely wear skirts/dresses this length & shape and while entirely age appropriate, I don't care for the look on them either. I think at the knee length, or just slightly above, flatters both of them much more.  As for me, somewhere in storage I still have two mid-length pencil skirts, these are my version of mini-skirts. I rarely wear them. Most recently I wore one for a halloween costume 3 years ago. My problem with minis is that my rear has slid over the years. And I recently let go of a satin formal dress that had A-line skirt that hit at mid-thigh. It used to be a favorite but when I tried it on recently I did very much feel like I looked like a middle aged woman wearing a doll's dress. But then again maybe it's also my eye that's changed, i.e., grown accustomed to midi lengths. Who knows.  Diana on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216259 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 14:29:18 +0000 Diana 1216259@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ OK, I'm coming back to answer the original question.  I think that mid-thigh length of skirt is fine aesthetically.  I personally do not wear my skirts that short but this is because I have hangups about always getting mistaken for younger than my age.  But objectively I think it's flattering, especially on someone of her proportions, as it shows off her long legs.  Sally posted her measurements on her site once and they're actually really similar to mine.  She (and I) have very long legs for our heights, so mid-thigh is not at all close to flasher-length.  On me that would probably be a 16-18" skirt.   I think the tunic+leggings look is fine too.  Her crotch and butt are covered and the leggings look pretty opaque.  Again, I personally would probably wear jeans but it's more about my personal style and style goals.   Minnie on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216211 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 13:55:31 +0000 Minnie 1216211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I agree with everything rabbit said  and I also agree with Mary K about not wanting to flash anybody. Maybe it depends on height, leg proportions etc, but mid-thigh on me is nowhere near the danger zone of showing my underwear. I'm 5'10" with long thighs and mid-thigh is a good 10 inches below my crotch. I also have no problem with a tunic and leggings (in a casual setting) as long as the leggings are substantial enough. I have a problem with "age-appropriate" per se. I think it's more important if the outfit looks good / appropriate on the wearer for the situation, rather than basing appropriateness solely on the chronological age of the wearer. Gennifyr on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216141 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 12:11:20 +0000 Gennifyr 1216141@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Agreeing with gradfashionista. I wear lots of mid-thigh items and so do most of my favourite celebs (over 30). I wear biker shorts under them. Rach on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216081 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 09:23:42 +0000 Rach 1216081@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I agree with MaryK. Uncomfortable with skirts that short, and risk of flashing people.  gradfashionista on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216044 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 05:39:42 +0000 gradfashionista 1216044@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ At the risk of going against the grain, I think mid-thigh for myself and many others *is* flattering. Mid-thigh can be the slimmest part of the thigh, whereas the area right above the knee makes my leg lines look like an inverted trapezoid. I'd sacrifice shape over leg line, but that's me. In Paris, the average skirt length is mid-thigh, if not shorter, and often worn with dark pantyhose/tights. Women ride bikes with tiny skirts and nobody bats an eye on whether their underpants are exposed. The difference is that there, the short length is entirely socially acceptable, and in the US and Canada, it is not. Consider how the notion that it's inappropriate for 25+ or 30+ women depends on latent views that short skirts, when push comes to shove, are still not considered acceptable for the average woman. I find arguments that women are too old to show X amount of skin to be perilously close to arguments that women who are fatter than X shouldn't wear Y. Gigi on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216029 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 04:40:35 +0000 Gigi 1216029@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I really was just kidding about the filter, MaryK! I do appreciate your input. :^) I apologize if I came across as upset. Sometimes writing things doesn't have the same effect as saying them! MsMary on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216027 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 04:35:52 +0000 MsMary 1216027@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Never mind.  Filter engaged. Liz A. on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216008 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 03:43:07 +0000 Liz A. 1216008@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ well, she may be right for herself, but this is certainly not a rule that can be generalized across body types.  my thighs are average in the front (for my height), but short in the back after the booty is accounted for.  i was shocked that she would consider something shorter than what she shows here to be more flattering as it would be wholly indecent on my body. lyn* on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216003 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 03:32:36 +0000 lyn* 1216003@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I know for myself, leggings are not pants. And I wouldn't be comfortable with it. Skinny jeans, yes. Gigi on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths/page/2#post-1216000 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 03:30:00 +0000 Gigi 1216000@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ On the dress in question (<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.alreadypretty.com/2014/04/dressed-adjustment.html">http://www.alreadypretty.com/2.....tment.html</a>), the photo caption calls it is a tunic, like rabbit thought. Sally is wearing leggings as well, as opposed to tights. This might be another good idea for a spinoff thread...are tunics allowed to be shorter than skirts, even if leggings are worn with both? lyn* on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215994 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 03:24:05 +0000 lyn* 1215994@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think Sally wears her dresses too short too. I'm not her age, but I'd be mortified to wear that dress length that MaryK pointed out... Gigi on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215982 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 03:08:16 +0000 Gigi 1215982@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow, I had to do a post-and-run...I had no idea this thread would turn into such a hot topic! I am reminded of the old Crockpot tagline: "Cooks all day while the cook's away." I see we got first-hand experience of MaryK's lack of filter. :^) (Just kidding, MaryK!)  I was really more interested in just the question about proportions and whether everyone has the "no man's land" on their thigh. I like to use proportions a lot in my dressing and was hoping to learn if I was missing something in Sally's post, because although the outfit is very broken up with different colors, I didn't see that the skirt length itself was a problem. In fact, the skirt length, without taking anything else into account, seemed to divide her body up in a flattering way. (Now that I have looked at her outfit again, I am wondering if she is reacting to not the skirt length but the fact that it's flared, which seems to make her look short-waisted.) But...I do have a veiled interest in asking about skirt length. I wear skirts that are midthigh occasionally. (I wear skirts of all lengths, from mini to maxi.) Some of them are pencil, while some of them are skater skirts and are "girly." I am 40 (sorry, MaryK!). But I am like Mo in that I don't dress for my age. But I am a gamine type in Kibbe—very short (5'2"), very slender, and very girlish facial features. I think that people who have childlike features and a very small frame to begin with can wear shorter skirts, including skater skirts, years past a typical "age cutoff." I think that a person could even wear one to work, if it is of the longer variety and is paired with a blazer or something serious. (I know a woman in the medical profession who wears full, above-knee skirts regularly, but she always pairs them with a silky button-down, a conservative blazer, opaque tights, and boots or booties.) The skirt adds a fun touch, but that's all it is—a "touch." As for my skater skirts, I wear them out and about on errands and not to a workplace setting. Maybe rabbit has a good idea about starting some spinoff threads. I agree that it seems like we've got a few topics bubbling over on this one. If anyone feels so inclined to start a separate thread, feel free! :^) If anyone else wants to chime in on the proportions/no-man's-land question, and whether having a flared skirt would make suboptimal proportions more visible, I'm all ears! Kat on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215981 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 03:07:26 +0000 Kat 1215981@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Rabbit, I have to agree with you.  I see that look a fair bit where I live -- the tunic with leggings or something legging-esque -- and it doesn't read as juvenile to me.  I recently started wearing that silhouette myself, though I work in a super-casual environment.  As in, a little oppressively casual: if I felt like dressing up in heels and a pencil skirt, I'd look very out of place and kind of precious.  Which is too bad, because sometimes I crave dressing up!  I just do it with a casual stretchy pencil skirt and more funky shoes, and it works much better. I will say that the buck stopped for me personally at a pair of skirted leggings.  Oh, how I loved those skirted leggings.  I wanted to dance around the room in them.  But the skirt was supposed to mimic the mid-thigh length of a tunic... and it just looked like a mini skirt.  Gorgeous, but a mini skirt, and I've never been a mini skirt person.  It didn't feel comfortable to me, which I suppose is a bit odd, because the mid-thigh tunic and leggings and boots would have felt fine.  Go figure.  I sadly returned them.  But otherwise, I think it's a questions of taste, proportions, and the context of the entire outfit. Some women look great in short skirts, regardless of age, and likely could have pulled off my skirted leggings!    Suz on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215975 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 02:52:57 +0000 Suz 1215975@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ But Anna, as you often say -- it's all in the styling. You wear your short flared skirts in a very different way than Sal and the skirts themselves are different, too.  Basically, I'm with rabbit. This is person and context specific.   always trying on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215971 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 02:40:40 +0000 always trying 1215971@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ IMO from just above knee to just below knee are the most flattering and practical lengths for women in general.  AND where in that spectrum can depend on age, body proportions, type of skirt, from business dressing to a sun dress, tights, panty hose, bare legs,sandals, heels, boots etc. to individually find what suits you best.  also if it just covers your but it is a tunic not a dress!! rabbit on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215905 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 00:35:48 +0000 rabbit 1215905@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yeah, I'm thinking that from my perspective there are a couple of different idea threads here: a) proportions/aesthetics:  IMO nothing wrong with a shorter skirt depending on the build/body/other items of clothing worn with it - for example Mo's pics, proportionally where the highest hem hits? Great to my eye.   Case by case and person by person it can work or not work.   b) cultural connotations:  the flared reading as girly question.  Worth considering, maybe subverting or maybe avoiding, but basically comes down to informed individual choice.   c) modesty - subjective, culturally constructed,  very audience and setting specific.  Women over 25 in short skirts? I think perhaps Giovanna Battaglia may be able to pull them off indefinitely ;) : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.thesartorialist.com/tag/giovanna-battaglia/">http://www.thesartorialist.com.....battaglia/</a> annagybe on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215874 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 00:10:10 +0000 annagybe 1215874@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hmm, I wear short skirts. MsMary on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215861 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 23:59:54 +0000 MsMary 1215861@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ And note that her leggings are clearly leggings and the skirt worn with bare legs is long in back! Suz on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215859 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 23:58:52 +0000 Suz 1215859@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think it's true that a flared short skirt has youthful connotations that are tough to shake, which affect how we see it on a grown woman.  Tunics are a different matter, but personally, I prefer those worn with flat boots or footwear (or almost flat) as in rabbit's neutral example. I agree with her, though, that this is not at all a bad look for those who aren't working in offices. Like Mo. Of course, Mo also has great legs so that makes it more flattering for her. And note that her skirts are not flared little-girl style skirts.  deb on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215832 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 23:25:05 +0000 deb 1215832@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Mid thigh is now tunic length for me. I am too old to go without pants Mo on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215830 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 23:24:21 +0000 Mo 1215830@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hmm, I see no problem with that length, but then I'm known to not obey the age-skirt-length-police.   Diana on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215827 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 23:19:33 +0000 Diana 1215827@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ So yesterday when Janet was trying on the flared dress at Reiss, Angie said something that rang SO true for me. She said that FLARED short skirts look quite young and childish because that's what little girls wear - wide short skirts are easy to move and play in. Whereas a shorter pencil or straight skirt looks adult because children don't wear pencil skirts. I personally like my skirts to be at least 20", preferably 22". I think 22-24" is around knee length on me, depending on how high the waist hits. 20" is still longer than mid thigh. I do have very long thighs though. To build on Angie's point, I'm willing to go a little shorter for a straight or tulip skirt, not only because it's not childish but also because there's less chance of underwear flashing and errant gusts of wind when the skirt is not flared. On the other hand, I think a really fitted short pencil is just too exposed and body con for me. MsMary on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215826 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 23:18:30 +0000 MsMary 1215826@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Huh.  That's not generally a look you see here in So Cal so I will take your word for it that it's an actual Look and not just a micro-mini with tights.  About which I am vastly relieved, if I may say so.  rabbit on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215818 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 23:07:34 +0000 rabbit 1215818@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ok, the fashion police might come for me, but honestly I think sometimes the difference between a thicker or fleece-lined legging/jegging/pleather/ponte pant is semantics, and some unsightly seams or zippers that show through your top layer.   In my book, if your backside is fully covered with fabric thicker than tights, everything is opaque, and no panty seams can show through no matter what happens (gravity suddenly reverses for a moment), it doesn't even visually register as 'short' to me.   It might be a living in hipsterville thing, and the fact that it's almost always black and charcoal gray but this look is omnipresent in the neighborhoods and cafes around me and doesn't appear to have any negative connotations. This is one point of fashion contention where I tend to side with my 'tribe' though, so I understand in different contexts and places it might just read completely differently.  I'm also not talking about office wear, but casual street clothes. ETA:  Gwen Stefani is 44. I realize popstars follow different rules, but still, this outfit is gorgeous to me.  Actually I'd wear what her husband is wearing too ;) <a rel="nofollow" href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/19/article-2396995-1B5E6AEB000005DC-195_634x837.jpg">http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix.....34x837.jpg</a> Here's a more neutral example: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://handbagsoutletstores.com/images/Joan-Vass-Snap-Placket-Tunic-Stretch-Leggings-Womens.jpg">http://handbagsoutletstores.co.....Womens.jpg</a> Interesting! this sent me down a rabbit hole of recent Gwen Stefani streetwear looks and I basically realized she's my style icon right now, I would repeat the majority of them if I could. MsMary on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215803 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 22:44:23 +0000 MsMary 1215803@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ But... where are her pants?  LOL rabbit on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215802 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 22:38:36 +0000 rabbit 1215802@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ See MaryK  I'm reading that as a tunic, not a dress.  I wouldn't necessarily do heels for myself, but I see tunics with leggings or narrow pants (usually black and gray, usually with flat boots or booties) around me all the time on women of all ages including with gray in their hair and handsomely lined faces.  To me it's an arty/casual staple? MsMary on "Skirt lengths" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skirt-lengths#post-1215799 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 22:26:29 +0000 MsMary 1215799@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think Sally generally wears her dresses way, way, WAY too short.  Perhaps she is emboldened by the fact that she wears tights for much of the year.  But I must admit to having a poison eye for a grown woman in <a href="http://www.alreadypretty.com/2014/04/dressed-adjustment.html" rel="nofollow">a "dress" that barely clears her crotch</a>.