Midi - to hem or not to hem? - YouLookFab Forum

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Midi - to hem or not to hem?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This Comrags dress was a gift from a friend who no longer wanted it. I love it. It has an interesting detail with a sort of wrap front and a belt that winds around (pictured).

Right now it hits me just below the knee, so a sort of high-midi length. I have worn it this way. It's okay...but a bit difficult to walk in, even though there is a small slit at the back.

And I don't know if it would be more flattering if shorter. I am sorry; I didn't pin, but I think you can probably imagine quite easily.

I'm about 5'4" with shortish legs.

Re the shoes: These were not popular with an earlier outfit. But they are the best I have (in terms of height, if I want to get away with this skirt length) and I can't afford anything different until next year.

Okay, so I guess I actually have THREE questions:

1. To hem or not to hem?

2. If not these shoes, what might work well with this dress? (Thinking ahead to next year).

3. Could I style this for fall? How? The fabric is a heavy-weight polyester, without a lot of drape, and some shine, like a heavy silk brocade, in a way.

Finally, apologies for the odd photo backgrounds. My photographer and I are working on it!

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Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I think this is going to work quite well with another shoe!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Angie. What would you suggest as an option? Can't afford this year, but then again, if I found the perfect thing on sale...

Vix

Veteran

In Anne's "midi" thread I was just talking about how tapered or straight skirt + below-the-back-of-knee-bend length does not always lend itself to loads o' walking ease!

IME slits and/or stretch only go so far. So do consider that.

As you've noted, you and I are the same height and have similar proportions. I *do* wear this length with the perception that it's good but not my best.

Do I think you look lovely in this dress? Absolutely!

Do I think you might look even better with the hem taken up a smidge to mid-kneecap/back-of-knee bend? Yes. But as-is looks great IMO -- truly!

ps I put a boatload of hem length pics on Anne's thread:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-not-for-m

taylor

Veteran

Really pretty dress Suz...absolutely love the cut on you.

I agree with Angie I think this would work amazing with a different shoe...a strappy sandal even:) I am thinking a bit more delicate looking than the one shown .
Also if this is like a brocade it would work well for fall with boots and a layering piece underneath like a blouse or turtleneck!

Looks very versatile...I like the length!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I just posted on someone else's thread that I like the "high-midi" length but with this I think it would look better a little shorter. I think it's because the neckline is quite high and the whole thing ends up feeling a little too covered-up, proportion-wise. I think this would look great for fall with a cardigan or blazer and pumps.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

How about a nude pump or sandal? Also a longish necklace would be nice because of the high neck. It is a very pretty dress. If you don't want to get low contrast shoes, I would probably hem it to just above the knee.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

To answer your questions (ps! What a nice friend!)

1. To hem or not to hem? ... I would hem it; I think it's a touch long for you

2. If not these shoes, what might work well with this dress? (Thinking ahead to next year). ... if you hemmed it, might work with this dress. I'd also wear it with heeled tall boots

3. Could I style this for fall? How? The fabric is a heavy-weight polyester, without a lot of drape, and some shine, like a heavy silk brocade, in a way. ... I'd be okay to use a topper with a bit of volume, since this is a heavier fabric. Maybe a slouchy cardigan!

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

I think the length is quite nice, I would wear with boots and a cropped jacket for the fall. I think a more delicate sandal for the spring and summer.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Laura that the length, combined with the high neckline, makes for a lot of coverage and print. A higher heeled shoe would mitigate that, but I think it would look great shortened to the knee.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks so much, all of you! I truly appreciate the input. It is amazing how helpful it is to hear your opinions.

I still haven't decided exactly what to do, but I suspect I'll trim it a bit.

@ Lyn, you are right, my friend is SUPER generous. She buys quite a lot of clothes and has given me MANY of her cast-offs. I'll post more pics of her donations soon!

Funnily enough, she is at least 2 inches shorter than me and has shorter legs! She never, ever hems things. Perhaps that's to my benefit, because when she donates I get to choose my own length!

@ Janet, These wedge platforms are probably the highest heels I own. They are about 3 inches altogether. I am solidly on Team Low Heels (or wedges) so that is another reason I suspect I ought to shorten it a bit.

@Vix, I LOVED your posting on Anne's thread, thank you so much! Adore your new jersey print dress, too, by the way. And all your clothes. You are a total inspiration to me. You have lovely things, lovingly cared for, and so discerningly selected. This is what I aspire to. It may take me a few years to get there.

Whether or not I shorten it, I know I'm going to be on the look-out for a nude or very neutral strappy sandal with some heel but not too much for comfort. I have in fact been searching for such a thing, but it is not easy for me to find, given my own skin-tone, fussy feet, etc. I will continue to read here for ideas.

I'm also going to be on the lookout for some boots. I do have knee-high black ones. But I am wondering if a cognac tone might work well with this dress (and be a good addition to my wardrobe.) The dress belt is navy with cognac.

I have a navy cardigan that might work with this for fall, and also a navy cropped jacket. I'll show you how it looks with those in a few months!

Thanks again!

Debora

Veteran

I'm no help at all when it comes to giving advice on hemming. I think it would look nice shortened, but I also can picture it midi-length with boots. It is a gorgeous dress and looks wonderful on you. I wish I had a friend like yours!

Deborah

Veteran

Suz, I'm a bit late getting here but I think the dress looks fantastic on you. You could hem it but I think the length looks great. It really would work at either length IMO. I would change the shoe. Something a little "finer" and with a small heel. I also think you could layer under this dress or add a jacket or cardigan. Its pretty versatile and there are a lot of styling options here.

AJ

Veteran

I like the smokey colors on this dress. I'm slowly learning that a high neckline looks nice with long pendant necklaces. Maybe something in a earthy orange or yellow shade? How about one of those raw stone versions that are trending right now?

I'm envisioning a smokey grey blazer/cardigan with the cognac boots that you are thinking about.

Kari

Veteran

Jean (Greenglove) pretty much nailed my ideas - a more delicate or strappy shoe for now, and boots and a jacket for fall. Lovely. I actually think cognac boots would be my preference with the coloring of this dress - the color of the belt looks lovely with it!

Suz, also keep in mind (RE: your comment regarding your skin tone) that "nude" does not mean that a shoe must match your skin tone exactly, or even come close. My yellow lace-up pumps kind of function as a "nude" because while they are nowhere close in tone to my skin, they extend rather than break the leg line. Same thing with my tan wedge sandals, which are quite a bit darker than my super-pasty legs. I think Angie mentioned that her metallic shoes (wedges) do the same thing. Women with darker skin tones might wear cognac or chocolate brown or even bronze shoes as a "nude" because it still has the same effect.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks again, everyone.

@ AJ, I LOVE the idea of a smoky grey cardigan or jacket. I don't own such a thing, but it would be a great addition to my wardrobe, so I will be on the lookout. I will also watch for a long necklace in a colour that will pop with this. Or possibly for fall, a scarf would work as well.

@ Kari, thanks for those reminders that nude doesn't have to be an exact match. I will keep hunting and if I see something on sale that fits the bill, I may get it this year after all.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I haven't read through the comments, so forgive me if I'm just repeating what has been said, but my first reaction was that this would be fab with a pair of strappy nude sandals.
Winterize it with tall boots and a denim jacket.

Heather

Veteran

Suz, I think this dress is brilliant on you! What a generous friend and a new score for your closet!

Despite the print, I think you are going to be able to layer and remix in fresh new ways. I think a pair of nude heels will suit this dress (and the rest of your wardobe) well.

You are so darling! Thanks for sharing.

Vix

Veteran

Suz --

Thanks much for the kind words (even about the crazy-print dress, ha!); trust me, you are a million miles ahead of where I was when I started trying to figure out all this.

You also have generous friends with really good taste in clothing.

Meant to say above that if/when you are boot shopping I'd consider a medium-to-dark grey as an alternative to the cognac. [Ideally you'd have both, of course!]

In addition to the grey looking good with this dress I think they might be a more flexible color with your other items than the cognac (nothing against that color, which is great with many shades).

It's just that if you only have the budget for one shade I'd start trying to figure out if one is better than the other for what you're working with right now.

Lisa

Veteran

Pretty dress, I don't mind the current length. I think a shoe with a heel and low contrast against the skin is all you need here.