Shannon, as a fellow petite whose apple-ness is growing all the more pronounced these days, I found myself really nodding along to what you, as well as Firecracker and Rae said about the tough balancing act of skinnies.
In theory, it sounds like I should go closer to the body to avoid swamping my short frame. But in actuality, possibly because I'm not the slender IT that Una is with her strong but dainty legs, I find I look more square in skinnies! Unless, as Rae said, the top is quite a bit more floaty or A-shaped or longer than the average T-shirt or sweater.
Now, I love my red skinnies from this summer and found them surprisingly versatile---in terms of *colour*. But in terms of tops, I think they also worked mainly because I'd changed the style of tops I was wearing to looser, more smock-like fits and tunics this year as well. I don't find them working with a body-skimming T-shirt or sweater. And the top needs to have length enough to NOT cut across the widest part of my hips and thighs. This even though my calves are very chunky, so it's only recently (cue: belly!) that I've felt like a lollipop. They really seem to need volume *and* length on top.
Of course, granted your shape is not the same as mine. But I did think, looking even at the Cookie Monster thread (by the way, can I just say I *love* your husband? do you mind terribly?), that the sweater could do with being just an inch or two longer to flatter even more.
It's fine. You know what works for you, and it's not skinnies, not this season. That's FINE! Wear what you feel fabulous in, and rejoice that you can find fabulosity in your closet one way or another.
