Well, I like #7 best, of course. The sweater looks really cute with the skirt.

I like 5 and 8 the best. It's hard to tell whether the top in 5 is too dressy for this skirt maybe.

Janet, I prefer that skirt too. I wasn’t on the market for one! I’m tempted.

Jaileen, I need to wear that sweater more. It’s adorable! I may wear it tomorrow... with jeans!

Christina— the slim fitting skirt from the store looks really great. The slim Fit works well (I agree with Janet). I wonder if you could find this style in a more casual fabric and wear it with flats so that it meets your lifestyle requirements.

The tucked tops with the red dress make you look too short waisted, IMO. Untucked looks really good though.

Oh I just read that you have a bloating Issue.
Well, I do think that knit tops (that show your curves) coupled with the circle skirt works really well too.

smittie, I’m considering it anyway! I have a black pencil skirt in a more casual fabric, so if I get this it would be for my dressy capsule.

So I took overnight to think about this.

1. I don't feel fab in the red skirt when the top is tucked (except in the case of that one black shell). I feel only being able to wear an untucked sweater over it most of the time limits it. I may chalk this up to a buying mistake, but I am going to put the skirt into holding till next winter and see where my body's at, most likely. I suspect I should size up on these skirts so the waist is not at my chest, in the future.

2. I realized have a need for a dressy cold weather capsule, starting this year. We upped our membership at the Met Museum to the level where we get invited to nicer occasions, and we've been taking up the invitations.

Therefore, I can see a place for the black polka dot pencil skirt in my life, and believe it will be easier to style. The bloating is an issue, but I can do (and should be doing) things to manage it, especially if I know in advance that I'll be wearing the skirt. The skirt wasn't tight across my belly, and I'll likely always have tights or nylons underneath, which will help.

I also thought about how much I love red, and have very little of it. So... I'm going back for the skirt and the red version of the sweater I tried on. I will also keep the black top, as I believe I can wear it to work with jeans, or dress it up. I'm holding off on deciding about the silver top - I like it, but I will always need to layer over it during the festive season!

Hi fellow petite pear/apple shaped person! I have the same trouble with skirts as you do. I think that black shell top in your pic 8 is really flattering with that red skirt though and I love the red skirt. A cropped jacket? My only attempt at such an outfit this year was with my daisy skirt which gained the YLF seal of approval. The cropped jacket helped?

I think it does help, Jenni! Looks good on you. I don’t have anything that would fit the bill in a good coordinating color, but I’ll keep it in mind if try to resurrect the skirt from the holding zone. I have other full skirts, so that’s still a useful tip. I had to get rid of an ink blue Moto jacket that might have worked, as it was a holdover from smaller sized times and didn’t close well. Still haven’t found a good replacement.

Christina, first I'll say that I'm long-waisted and I never liked being long-waisted, for some reason I thought it made me look stumpy. I don't know if it's a case of "grass is greener on the other side" or perhaps we are our own worst critics, but just thought I'd share my own hangups for having the opposite body proportions.
Having said this, I get what you mean, but I still like you in the red skirt with tucked-in tops. I agree that some of the tops work better than others; to my eyes, the best ones are: 3, 5, 6, 8. I was trying to figure out what makes #8 work so well (it's my favorite and seems to be the favorite of other fabbers). Perhaps because it is both streamlined and structured, so it gives your torso a slim but figure-defining fit (i.e. not too tight, not loose or flowy). The color and cut help with this. I do like the burgundy top too, partly because of the color combo. But I think the black shell works better partly because it is sleeveless; somehow it balances out the proportions. I would suggest that you look for similar tops that are fitted but not skintight, with some structure on the shoulder line and bust (dart lines), short sleeves or sleeveless, in dark colors...
Given your dressy occasion needs I can also see that the polka dot skirt would be a great investment piece. You look beautiful in it, and it is so versatile (it looks like you already have some great tops to match it).
PS I have bloating issues, and when I do I can't stand anything constricting around my mid-section (whether at the waist, above, or below!). Ugh... haven't found a good solution...

K.M the thing that helps me most is fennel tea. Pure medics grade fennel, which I get from amazon. Heather’s tummy tea.

I think that the red skirt works in some situations and with some tops, but since I have a tiny New York City apartment I have to keep the most versatile pieces.

Also, I got the red sweater but it’s rather long. That color doesn’t come in petite. Sigh.

I’m short waisted too, and I don’t wear skirts anymore. I don’t like the red skirt with tucked tops on you, because I don’t like these proportions on myself. Maybe a short welted top could work?

I love the polka dots skirt with polka dots top on you, very flattering, looks like a dress, so the short waist is not emphasized.

Christina, I will try the fennel tea! I didn't know about it. Just added to my Amazon shopping cart the package looks so pretty too! Thank you for the tip!

I really like the two-piece dress - polka dot skirt and matching top look fab.

K.M. I hate the taste, but that stuff works.

Angie, me too! It’s funny how I stumbled on to that. It’s like having a suit that I can break up if I want.

I, too, like the two-piece dress.

When you have a short waist and a big difference between waist and hips (I have to cope with the same issues), an great solution can be to wear a column of colour, like a (kind of) suit or dress. So you may be able to wear your red skirt--though the shape seems difficult-- with either a red top or a red jacket.

By the way, peppermint tea, too, relieves stomach bloating, AND it has a fresh taste. Green tea, as well, is very beneficial (but, IMO, has a boring grass-like taste). So one of my favourites is a mix of peppermint and green tea. I have found that this mix has a pleasant taste, improves digestion, has a soothing effect, and even improves breathing (I struggle with several allergies).

The Cat, I'll keep the column of color in mind. I suspect ultimately I just needed a size up on that skirt, so it would sit a little lower and maybe not pouf out so much at the wrong place. That ship has sailed, but it's possible I'll lose weight. I do plan to try, for health reasons - I've gotten good at maintaining my weight, at least, so I'm trying to see if I can start shaving some calories off.

The fennel stuff works better for my particular issues, alas. But I use peppermint too, and it is MUCH nicer.