Ask Angie: What is considered a mini?

Kathleen

Hey Everyone,

I was watching an episode of 'What Not To Wear' earlier this morning, and noticed the sign in the beginning of the episode that says "No mini skirts after 30". I have also noticed that on the show, Stacey wears great outfits, and nothing that I would consider inappropriate for her age, but when she sits some of the pieces she is in do look "minish", but when she stands they seem fine for her body type and age.

So, I am wondering what is considered a mini, why wear them, and from what you guys have seen of my wardrobe do I have any?

I have noticed that when I sit down in some of my skirts, they look sort of "minish", but when I stand up they seem fine. Why is that?

For me, I have never liked mini skirts, and believe that they give off the wrong impression, which is something that I do not want to do for myself.

Any comments or suggestions or opinions?

16 years ago

General

3 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Very interesting topic. What makes a mini a mini. I’d say anything shorter than 3-4 inches above the knee is a mini. As for who can, and who can’t wear them – we are about to open a huge can of worms. I will say that older, short, slim women get away with wearing minis because they proportionally show less skin than taller women. It somehow looks more appropriate when there is less skin. I hope that makes sense.

16 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Perhaps also depends what you wear underneath?

I've got a dress which i wouldn't be seen dead in without leggings am sure it would show my knickers if i bent over! but pull on a pair of leggings and i feel totally safe in it x

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Kathleen, we must've watched the same WNTW episode because I saw one recently where Stacey was sitting on a couch and the camera must've been lower, and she crossed her legs, and I turned to DH and said "is that her panties showing?"

I'm 43 and only 5'0" with pretty good legs for a lady my age (if I do say so myself!). Because I'm short, with short legs, I always liked to wear minis. The proportion seemed good for someone petite like me. But in recent years I've gotten uncomfortable wearing minis. A big part of it is the fact I have teen daughters, and frankly, I want to look like their mom, not their teeny-bopper friend or college-aged sister.

A bigger part of it is the sad fact that age has made my butt droop. The minis look adorable if I'm standing, but as soon as I bend over - you see my knickers (as LouLou mentions!). My teen DD's do not have this issue. I can only ascribe the difference to age, and what it does to make parts droop.

Or if I sit down, I get all squicked out feeling too much bare skin on the chair. That may be an age issue too.

I still *occasionally* wear a mini (as Angie defines them) .... but only with black, opaque tights and FLAT shoes (like boots). I keep the rest of the outfit modest too. I own exactly two minis (a black one and a pretty green microcheck). I have not worn either in over a year, but I'm not about to give them away... just ....yet. I would not wear them out with my DD's. I would wear them for the right occasion like a hot date night out dancing with my hubby, or say, hmm... my 44th birthday.

Since I'm petite I do think that my skirts and dresses look best on the slightly shorter side. Exactly at knee (i.e., cutting midway through the knee cap) or an inch or two above. Yes, when I sit the skirt rises up a little bit more. My litmus test is how much bare skin is hitting the chair when I sit. We live in an urban area and take public transportation a lot, so it grosses me out to have bare skin touching bus sits and such. If the skirt is just an inch above the knee, it's usually fine (but I have a flat backside so ymmv).

16 years ago

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