New dress - hem length opinions?

I've been spending a lot of my summer in casual dresses this year. I've found it's very comfortable for running the little boys all over creation. I just finished making this tee shirt dress last week, and it is super comfortable. It's not setting the world on fire style-wise, but I do think it's a step up from tee shirt dresses of yore.

The Breton-style is right in my wheelhouse, but the length grew longer throughout the day, and I'm considering a shorter hem. It started out just above my knee but is now below my knee, venturing into dowdy mommy territory, I fear.

Do you think just above the knee would be best, or I could go a couple inches shorter if that would update the style a bit. What do you think? Or do you think this is just a boring tee shirt dress with no real help of stylishness?

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12 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Great dress! I actually think it may be fine as is, since I think longer lengths are looking good , but maybe just an inch or so to take it somewhere on the kneecap. I don't think you need to take it inches above the the knee or it will look girlish and not as relaxed. Maybe take some photos with hem pinned?

Parsley

Pretty dress, and I'm so impressed that you made it! I like it fine as is, although I might be tempted to taper it a little at that length, but you're young and have great legs, so I bet you'll like it better if you take it up a couple of inches.

Glory

I quite like the length as is. I had one similar and it shrunk in the cold water wash by several inches (no dryer).

Anonymous

I like it as is! It looks breezy and comfortable and not too short that you'd be afraid to bend over or move in it. You did a great job!

Oh, no, leave it like this! It looks more special at this length to me (not like all the too-short dresses out there). I actually think it looks more expensive, and not dowdy at all. I think the A-line shape is probably very practical for all the Mommy bending and stretching you need to do. You could always belt and blouse it if you wanted to shorten it up and change the look a little.

donnat

I'd keep the length as well, not dowdy at all

Lantana

I vote to bring it a tad shorter so you can see where your calf muscle starts to go in. Does that makesense? You have done a fantastic job with the making as well as with the fabric choice. That blue suits you well.

rachylou

I can't tell you how much I like this dress!

This length is on the money for being ahead of the curve... but you know, if you don't leave in New York, L.A., London, Paris, or Milan, it's probably too far ahead of the curve. So I was thinking maybe a little shorter...

I do like it as is, Though also Rachy has a point. Bearing in mind what Glory said though, might it be wise to wait till it's been washed and then assess the length again?

Alexandra

(website)

Jenny, I'm assuming you prewashed the fabric and are not expecting further shrinkage. Have you pinned up the hem to see if you would like it better like that? I may be easier to make a decision when you're looking at side by side pictures of unaltered and altered.

FWIW, I like this dress the way you show it. But with your other dresses shorter, you may be used to seeing your kneecaps. Is it a habit or a strong preference?

lyn*

I think a touch shorter would be nice - I agree with Rachylou that you might be ahead of the curve a bit if you don't live in a huge city!

Suz

It's beautiful on you, JennyAnne. My thought is leave it this length -- it's not dowdy, but ladylike! Of course you can go shorter if you wish, but wash it first before you absolutely decide.

JennyAnne

Thanks for all of the thoughts. I did prewash the fabric, and it may shrink up again in the wash. I did play around with a belt and like that look, but I do like the comfort factor of no belt. As for why I think I'd like it short - it's just the fear of dowdiness, but if this longer length is coming back in vogue, maybe I needn't worry.

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