Do you have a preferred skirt length? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you have a preferred skirt length?

Runcarla

Veteran

Variety is the spice of life, and it is my belief that a person can wear skirts at any length they choose - as long as it is long enough to cover what shouldn't be on display and short enough that one doesn't trip over the hem.

I've read of different formulas for figure flattery such as the 'golden number': length of body shoulders to toes, including heels / 1.618 = golden number (hem at this number down from shoulders) - which seems to be just above the knee.

Another suggestion is to hem below the knee at the top of the curve of your calf muscle.

At school 'back in the day' a skirt had to be no shorter than finger tip length when your hands were resting comfortably at your sides (or else you would be sent home.)

I learned the way to hem a kilt the proper length is to have the wearer (male) kneel down on both knees and hem the material such that it just brushes the ground.

For a long time I liked swooshy midi's that fell below the calf about 6 inches above the ankle bone, but these days I like my dress and skirts best if the hem is mid knee or just below the knee cap. It just looks best to my eye.

What about you? Do you adhere to any 'rules'? What is your preferred skirt length?

38 replies

Latest reply was from Jane

Brooklyn

Veteran

For me it depends on the silhouette of the skirt.

I am totally on board with the midi trend and I love a-line skirts that hit somewhere in the just below knee to mid calf range. If it’s mid calf, I much prefer the hem to be asymmetrical. Much more flattering to my muscular legs.

But I still really like a-line skirts that hit just above the knee because of the retro vibe, especially with tall boots.

I prefer pencil skirts to be a bit longer - either on the knee or just below the knee. I used to wear them just above the knee but that feels a bit short now. I think I’ve gotten used to the length and ease of midi skirts. No worries when sitting down! But I’m sure that will change again with time.

taylor

Veteran

I like fitted pencil skirts above the knee .
I like a full 50’s style or as Angie says :
A skirt that goes “swoosh”. Tea length or a few inches above my ankle .

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I prefer just below my knee, I think it looks best proportionally on me, although I do own skirts and dresses at other lengths. I think because I prefer flats it seems to give enough leg to look at before the feet somehow? Much longer and it seems to need a heel to me, which I own a few of still but are not my preference.

Style Fan

Veteran

I like skirts that are a few inches above the ankle bone. I really like asymmetrical hems on longer skirts. I don't own any skirts that length. The skirts I own seem to be just below my knee or a few inches above my knee. I do own one maxi skirt that has a long slit in it.
My main issue in wearing skirts (or dresses) is footwear. It might be trendy to wear sneakers or Birks with skirts and dresses but I don't like the look on me.

Kathie

Veteran

Right now, my favorite length is from just below the knee, to 2” below the knee. But, depending on the item, I’ll wear anything from roughly 3” below the bottom of my knee to 4” above the top. The only length I never buy is items that end at, or just below, the widest part of my calf. That length makes me feel instantly frumpy, and I love my calves, so don’t feel any desire to hide them.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My best lengths are anything that covers the top half of the knee. I can get away with mid-knee but I prefer knee covering or longer. I am so thankful that midi’s are having a moment and perhaps should be buying more because of it, because it’s probably a matter of very little time before the trend changes and the market is once again flooded with even more too-short lengths. As it is, even with the midi trend, the vast majority of casual styles available are above the knee on me.

I wish I looked good in shorter styles, but it is simply just not good on me. The proportions look wrong on my long legs and short torso, and also above the knee lengths put too much emphasis on my knees, which are not attractive. I know, knees are not typically a beautiful body part, but mine are particularly not great.

kkards

Veteran

i didn't realize there were actual rules and science and math and stuff....i just feel more comfortable with a skirt/dress that hits somewhere just below my knees to about 2 inches below the knee....not sure if this is because its more flattering or because i feel more comfortable actually moving in that lenght...

RobinF

Veteran

Being short, I feel like lengths that show some leg are more flattering to me so I like mine about knee-length to slightly above. But I know part of it is my eye adjusting so maybe when midis have been around longer they will seem more flattering to me. I did wear them when I was younger and liked them on me.

Bijou

Veteran

I wear all lengths other than mini - so from about 3 inches above my knees to floor length. Most of my skirts and dresses with swoosh are midi length, pencil skirts and dresses below the knee and A-line skirts, above the knee.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Midi. No exceptions. Must be knee-covering, and can go as long as calf covering depending on the silhouette. No maxis unless it's a ball gown.

I have three skirts that perfectly fit the bill.

Maeve | Anthropologie Tallulah Lace Skirt

View Info

Top Pick

16

3.1 Phillip Lim 3.1 Phillip Lim Print Asymmetrical Ruffle Skirt (Nordstrom Exclusive) | Nordstrom

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Top Pick

21

Abstract Pleated Midi Skirt

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Top Pick

8

anchie

Veteran

I prefer knee covering midis. It is so much better not to worry if you are exposing too much while sitting. I purged almost all above the knee skirts and dresses.

Anonymous

Anything from a couple inches shorter than knee length to maxi. Lots of tapered pencil skirts/dresses, but also swishy ones as long as they collapse back onto the leg. I don't wear short flared skirts, cause they feel too young on me, plus the fear of "Marilyn-ing" in wind.

AndiB

Veteran

I am thrilled that longer lengths are back! I loved them in the 80s and 90s, and I suppose I moved to a pencil or sheath shape for work years when my profession rather demanded that look. But I’ve always loved a lower calf length - not maxi - full or narrow. I’ve purchased way too many this and last season haha.

Becky

Veteran

I think it depends on the style and fullness of the skirt: I like just above the knee for fitted skirts/dresses, or below the knee at the top of the curve of the calf muscle. I don't have many flaring skirts right now, so I'm not sure how I would feel about the length for that style.

ChristelJ

Veteran

Just at or below the knee for me mostly. Maxi or high-low also.
I wore midi length throughout the 80s and 90s, so I feel like it’s almost too soon for me to go back to midis, like I look dated. I like them on others, though!

karen13

Veteran

I've been thinking about this a lot as I've seen all the lovely YLGF dresses this week, and was finally inspired to make/wear one. I have struggled with "rules" and have not loved me in dresses/skirts. I think the "rules" told me to wear them shorter (as I'm 5'2" so more leg was supposed to be lengthening) but I didn't find that flattering.

I just posted my entry into the dress challenge, https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....y-wore-one and I think what I have learned is I feel JFE if the length covers below the widest part of calf, but is slim enough to not overwhelm me. Tucking to show a higher waist helped reduce the stumpifying factor. It kind of rocked my world as I'm not a tucker or a dresser/skirter.

The Cat

Veteran

Any length from just below the knee to ankle length.

nuancedream

Veteran

My preference is for midi skirts. I love the ultra feminine flow of fabric when I walk. I still wear knee length skirts, although the pencil skirts aren't getting as much love now as they used to get. The only length I avoid like the plague is a skirt that bisects my calf at its widest point...not a good look.

Liesbeth

Veteran

I think I look best in:
- waist surrendered or drop waist dresses that end about one hand above the knee (not really mini yet)
- fitted (pencil or a-line) dresses that end just 'on' the knee, longer makes my legs look stumpy and my upper body disproportionally short
- ankle to floor length when goung longer

The currently trending midi I find very hard to wear but that also has to do with my need to draw attention upwards (pear shape camouflage ;))

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Brooklyn -- it depends on the dress silhouette and also what footwear I'll wear it with.

For a straight shift -- on the knee, middle of knee, or just below knee.

For A-line -- midi length, but asymmetrical tends to work best if it the skirt hits mid-calf. A longer midi (tea length) or one just below the knee will generally work more easily than mid-calf.

For a pencil or tube skirt -- at the knee, or preferably, just below the knee.

Sal

Veteran

I prefer below the knee for straight skirts ( which for me are all dresses) or midi for fuller ones or A line. I used to prefer about 3 inches above the knee which seems to be better than 1 inch above. I will wear maxi lengths too and they would be one of the items I always get complimented on.

As a tall person I often find dresses and skirts a little shorter than I would prefer so am better to size up for length. Tall lengths are not really available here.

As a teen and in my early 20s I wore short mini skirts with opaques and loved the look.

Echo

Veteran

I prefer a true midi, which in my mind is about mid-calf. Just below the knee is, well, just below the knee and doesn't count as midi to me, so it is frustrating to order dresses and have them be shorter than anticipated.

But I generally prefer skirts to be swingy, too, because I teach and I find it easiest to be able to crouch and bend over without any worry of anything being too short. Freedom of movement is essential, and a long-enough swingy skirt provides that.

I also have a weird poison eye for being able to see the top line of a boot with a skirt, so I prefer to be able to cover the top edge of my boots. Having an inch or two of leg visible between boots and skirt just disrupts the line for my eye. I now actually prefer OTK boots so that I rarely have that issue. Longer skirt + taller boots = visual harmony in my mirror.

SarahD8

Veteran

Like so many others have said, my preferences depend on the cut of the skirt.

For skirts just above to just below the knee, I prefer a straight/narrow cut.

For full skirts, I prefer midi length (anywhere from mid-calf-ish to a few inches above the ankle bone).

I used to wear mainly a-line skirts that hit right around/just below the knee. I don't care for that look on me these days, it feels too saccharine. I wonder if I'll ever come back around?

Ginger

Veteran

Huh. No, I don't have a preferred length! I can and do wear anything from lower/mid thigh to trained. (Okay, the last is only for costume. So far.) Sometimes I don't have a choice about the length, so it depends on how the whole cut looks on me and if it's acceptable or not.

If I have opportunity to choose (like with eShakti dresses or my own makes) I typically choose just below the knee, or whatever is sufficient to cover a petticoat. Or recently, a little bit longer, since midis are in style. One thing I don't have in short supply is length from waist to ground.

Cee

Veteran

Queen Victoria !!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Mid-knee to mid-calf for me.

Moara

An inch below the knee or an inch above the knee works for me.

For midi skirts, they have to be 1/3 of the way from my knee to my ankle. Anything 2/3 of the way down looks ill-fitting and odd.

I also suit short skirts 1/3 of the way from my hip to my knee, but choose not to wear them for modesty and comfort.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

From knee covering on down. But must not show above the knee while sitting. Must check from the side if I have any doubt.

Gigi

Veteran

For pencil skirts, I like just above the knee. I am short (5'2"), and I think this works well with my proportions.

I like my midis to be probably at the midpoint of my calf. I don't have muscular calves (or boot shopping would be much easier!), so I don't need to worry about drawing a lot of attention to that area.

I used to love maxis but haven't been feeling them for a couple of years. Same with minis. I did buy one mini denim skirt this year, but I bought it specifically as a substitute for denim shorts. Otherwise I don't wear many minis.

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