How to wear this dress age-appropriately? - YouLookFab Forum

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How to wear this dress age-appropriately?

Christine Q

First post. Need help for dress with too-short skirt please. How to cover legs? What footwear?

Just purchased this cute dress from Sahalie, size SP. I really like it, however the skirt is about an inch too short for me to feel comfortable in it: it just shows too much leg, feels like a skating skirt. (I'm in my late 40s, have a decent figure, but I don't want to go around looking like a college student.)

My question is: is there a good way for me to provide some leg cover (tights?, leggings?) without looking foolish or frumpy? Also, what shoes would go with this? I'm guessing flats or high boots? Or should I just give up and send it back?

Any helpful comments greatly appreciated. As you can tell, I am really bad at figuring out what to wear.

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from friendly136015501080

unfrumped

Veteran

Hi and welcome!

Too-short dresses are a common theme here, so you're in good company. Lots of posts about specific dresses and also general observations, or in my case, whining!

So, you could show a picture of you wearing it and get some general feedback on "how short" it looks to others, though you may get everything from "next" to, " you go, girl".

But there is an obvious question--do you need to buy a dress you already feel is too short? Why, and why this dress?

So, tights and leggings are the usual suspects to help make " a a bit short" look more elegant or ladylike and less exposed. Sometimes I get in that mode if there's a superb fabrication, in wool or sweater knit, or the fit is stellar everywhere else, and the dress is well-suited for fall/winter. But even then it can't be so short that I feel odd in it, and most of the time I pass, because, well, it still may look "cute" or girlish and I don't want that. Or the added legwear changes the look to something less good.
A good way to work through it is to try it on with some tights you already have, and footwear, booties or boots, don't necessarily have to be perfect matches. Be sure it doesn't hang up or cling, either. If it still looks short or you have to invest in an entire wardrobe just to mitigate the length, that does not sound like a good investment.

Elly

Veteran

I would stick with leggings with that dress if it doesn't cling to them, but it is going to be hard color-wise.

BethT

That is super cute and a dress I would try on and love and then have the same problem you are having! (I'm also late 40's)

It would have to become a winter dress for me because I would wear it with tights (probably a thick textured pair) and boots of some sort. I think a rugged pair of boots might look cute. I don't think I could wear it bare legged.

I think if you wanted to look like a college girl, you'd wear it in the heat of summer with a pair of Uggs (I live in a college town, so I know what those girls are wearing). Nothing against Uggs, but how they ever became a summer shoe is beyond me.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Welcome, and where does the dress hit you on the leg?

Joy

Veteran

Is there any hem that could be let out? Also, since the dress is a petite, could you exchange it for a regular for more length?

Christine Q

Hi unfrumped, and thank you so much for taking time to reply! I will see what I can do about maybe posting a photo. My sense is that I can get away with the length, but it does not feel comfortable to me.

I definitely don't need this dress. I agree it is probably not a particularly good investment. But now it has become kind of a project, as in "what can be made of it?" I am making a conscious--albeit clumsy--effort right now to dress a bit nicer and more a la mode, because such does not come naturally to me and left to my own devices I will happily wear items from my high-school days simply because they still fit and I still have them. Yes, I'm in that category I'm afraid. You can see why I'm reaching out for help!

As for items I already own: therein lies the rub. I don't have any tights, leggings, or even high boots. I have never taken to that fashion, but again I am trying to join in and fit in. Again, any advice greatly appreciated.

Christine Q

Angie, it hits about 4 inches above the knee. I have short legs.

Joy, no go on the hem. The top part fits great, it's just the skirt.

Elly, yes matching the color (at least for tights or leggings) seems pretty well impossible.

unfrumped

Veteran

I would return it, based on info so far.
One of the best things I am learning here is to say " no" and move on , rather than force things to work. Instead spend some forum time on discovering your own style.

Anonymous

I'm agreeing with returning it, but only because it sounds like it would require too many accessories to make it wearable, and if you don't own those things already this dress might not fit into your life that well anyway?

But I am very miserly with my closet space (or my mental clothes closet) so..

Liz

Veteran

I also vote return, for the practical matter that a knit dress is going to stick like crazy to tights or leggings. You can get around that with a slip ...but then you have to buy the slip, too.

Since you're just starting to up your style, why not start with a slam dunk that you feel and look great in, rather than one that you have to figure out how to make work?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Christine Q, the flared integrity of the dress offsets the shorter hemline. It MIGHT not cling to tights because it's flared. Worth a try before you return it.

Anonymous

I vote return. I have a feeling that if you wear it with tights, it will look too ice-skatery. Not that there's anything wrong with ice skaters, but that's probably not the look you're going for. Why not get a little black dress that you look fab in, and can dress up or down as needed? That might be a good start.

Christine Q

Ladies, I appreciate all your sensible advice. I had it back in the bag yesterday ready to return, and then I pulled it back out again, convinced that I ought to be able to make something of it.

I have attached a pic of me wearing it (with sheer hose and a very old pair of flat sandals). I apologize for the poor photo quality: I have never taken a selfie before. Hopefully, you can get a sense of how it fits. Thank you for your input.

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shedev

Veteran

I'd return this dress. There is something better out there.

catgirl

Veteran

I think it looks great in that sporty way - Title 9 styles a lot of dresses like this with bare legs and tall boots. It's not indecently short and you have a great figure plus the sleeves offset the length. But you have to feel confident in it!

Anonymous

My mantra has always been "doubt means don't."

Elly

Veteran

Maybe navy tights? I have to admit it reads a little short to me (although you have GREAT legs).

Anonymous

The waist might be a little high and the stylized print with the fit and flare shape looks kind of little girl to me, which is not my thing at all.

You have a really great figure all around, if you want something that has some of the details in this you should be able to find it but all of them in one dress is just too childish looking for my taste.

Anonymous

Ditto. Can I interest you in a cute pencil skirt?

unfrumped

Veteran

Congrats on posting a pic!
The dress does read very girlish to me, instead of, hmm, other favorable grown-lady modern style descriptors?

Here's where you would need to decide what is your goal. If you're having trouble figuring that out, join the club, but this is a good place to sort out.
I don't do Pinterest, but lots do and use it to brainstorm "aspirational style" or just looks, even art or colors, that appeal. Or just flag magazine photos. Or is there someone on YLF whose WIW's really appeal to you?

Of course I'm biased toward certain looks and style goals, so take that FWIW, since there are lots of different personalities here, and so something I might consider this or that could be someone else's intentional style goal. But sometimes if I have an idea of what I want to portray, and then if I find it does not read that way to lots of others, I would take that under consideration, or do "outfit lab" of what I'm trying to achieve and what would make that work.

Anonymous

Well, let me say, you have great legs! and you can probably find a dress that shows them off more and allows you to feel comfortable and never worried in a dress. I am 67 and I will wear a dress above my knees to Kauai, for example, and in the summer here in Idaho. But I don't feel comfortable wearing a dress that short to a luncheon or to an evening function. My legs are fine, just saying. But if the hem is uneven and the cut of the dress is interesting, I will wear a dress shorter than I'd normally buy, just because those characteristics make it doable, and I will wear it without leggings or stockings. For example, a dress like this. I also know I can wear leggings and boots/booties with this dress as well.

Halogen Side Shirred Knit Dress (Regular & Petite) (Online Only)

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Sal

Veteran

Welcome to the forum. Well done on your selfie.

I would wear the dress with chunky flat boots, of any length, and probably tights. But I wonder if since you are building a closet, and want to up your dressing, it would be easier to start with something else.

In saying that, I think the style suits you and it is flattering on your legs, so it is just how you feel in the dress.

Nebraskim

Veteran

I have a love-hate relationship with brands like Sahalie, Title 9, etc. because almost all their things are too short (I'm 5-7 and turned 60 this year) I think I would return this, but if you want to keep it, leggings or dress over pants is way to go here. I love the color. Is there a way to layer this over a slightly longer flared knit skirt that peeps out from below? you want it to look intentional, not like "oops your slip is showing." That might be interesting.

Christine Q

Nebraskim, I tried your excellent suggestion of layering a longer skirt underneath. I think this might have worked with a plain-colored dress, but in this dress it had the unfortunate effect of making the printed front look like an apron. But still, it was worth a shot.

CJ, I agree your dress looks much more grown-up and altogether better.

Kiwigal, you're right: I think it would be best to start with something else!

Thanks to all who took time to post feedback--it was really helpful to me. For the record, my fiance also voted "send back".

friendly136015501080

Sending this dress back was probably the right decision for you, given that you don't feel right in it.

Having said that, the dress does look good on you, as is, even with bare legs. It does not look too short. It would not have been a problem.

You need to wear what you feel good in, so I, too, would vote to replace it with something equally as nice looking that you feel better in.