New shorter lengths — how about with heels?

Just when I thought I had pants lengths determined for good, the fashion world has gone all upside-down on me. I’m starting to process this new, shorter length for full length pants, that doesn’t come close to the floor, but a few inches higher.

Today I tried on a jumpsuit. I was helping a friend shop for an occasion outfit and we both were smitten with a navy jumpsuit that has a semi-sheer overlay at the top for a little upper arm coverage, and another semisheer angled side panel that starts from the waist and floats down the length of the leg — it’s a nice asymmetrical touch that adds lovely dimension and movement to the piece. It seems like a great season- and occasion- spanning piece — something that dresses up or down quite nicely.

We are nearly the same height and both tried a M, but hers puddled on the floor in her stocking feet, while mine ended below my ankles, just barely brushing the top of my feet. So weird, but again evidence that confirmed she has a longer torso and I have longer legs.

What I am wondering is whether that shorter length looks ok with a dressier shoe option like a heeled sandal or heeled booties if I wanted to dress it up. I think it would work with a flat metallic sandal for me in the summer, but I haven’t really seen these shorter lengths styled with dressier footwear.

Any ideas or opinions on this length and suggestions for styling with footwear?

PS I found pics of it online — I think it’s slightly shorter on me than on the model, which seems really unlikely, but my perception may be skewed. Both my friend and the SA were not bothered at all by the length on me.

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4 years ago

slim cat

Veteran

Tough call without seeing you in a jumpsuit - I was imagining t-strap sandals, espadrilles with wrap around to fill up the space between the end of hem and beginning of the foot arch. Boots should fine too ( in my head that is ). The pic from on-line styling looks gorgeous. If you "sleep on it" and still think about it in the morning - then the jumpsuit wants you to come back!

Anonymous

Love this - so elegant . I think the length looks perfect in the stock photo . Can’t imagine wearing it with boots , unless they were a true “evening “ boot .

kellygirl

Pant lengths are my nemesis. That being said this seems like the right length. I think it would look odd to have the hem skim the ground. I like the open footwear because it adds structure and doesn't look heavy on the bottom--like a boot could look. Interested to know Angie's take. DD had some palazzo pants that we were trying to figure out what length to alter and we decided the best length was off the floor showing some shoe. YMMV because we still weren't really sure it was the right length...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Personally, I prefer dressy flares with heels at floor-skimming lengths.

Here on the model, I think the hems would look better a little shorter. 2 inches shorter.

I will absolutely split hairs about lengths.

Janet

I brought it home to try out with shoes — it’s really the only way to tell because they didn’t carry any kind of dressy footwear in that shop.

Here it is with my silver heeled sandals and my Rockstuds — my two dressy shoes! I think this jumpsuit looks better in person than in photos because of the floaty overlay piece — it moves nicely and shows a bit of the body’s contours underneath, but I don’t think you get that from the photos. I’d love honest brutal opinions! This is not something I *need* but I do occasionally get stuck with outfit options that fall somewhere between jeans and cocktail attire, and I think a piece like this can help bridge that need. But I’d love input.

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KILLER jumpsuit.

I think the length should be a little shorter to look more deliberate and showcase the shoe. See my comment above yours. 1.5 to 2 inches on you - shorter.

Firecracker (Sharan)

I love the jumpsuit on you, Janet! I think the length looks good with these heels, although I don't know if it's current-looking. I just don't have the PPL eye. This look reminds me of how I used to wear long, wider legged pants with heels back in the 90s--just to the point where the heel meets the shoe. (Which might or might not have been in style at the time, either.)

The jumpsuit is great on you! I'm liking the length of it with your shoe collection the way it is now ( wonder if it looks a bit shorter when you are walking and fabric is flowing - my imagination is running wild ).

Glory

This is stunning and I would definitely keep. You are bound to “need” it at some point and I love the idea of having a great item ready to go.

Jenni NZ

Wow Janet it looks awesome! I agree that the floaty bits are really flattering although I think you are usually too hard on yourself and always look great!
I like it with both pairs of shoes but especially the Rockstuds. Not being a stylist, the length looks great to me.

Preppy Pear

I see where Angie is coming from, though the length now also looks fine to my less-trained eye. You look so stunning in this! Dark blues and your hair and skin just pop, and the design is fantastic.

PPL and I have a rocky relationship - the return of flares and bootcuts means thinking about this again, sigh.

Thanks, all! I may try this on again with the shoes and test out how the jumpsuit rests after I move around more — I.e., where does it “land” after I sit down and stand up or walk around more. The elastic waist gives me a little play to simply hitch it up slightly to nudge the length shorter by an inch or so (my tendency is to pull it down slightly — a long-standing habit borne of the short torso), as long as the rise has adequate room. I would frankly be reluctant to alter this to a shorter length. After all, once it’s cut, I can’t make it longer again! When I walk, it does move a lot, flashing more of the shoes than you see here.

The only other jumpsuits I have owned have had tapered legs — now I see why that’s been an easier style for me! Takes the exacting PPL question off the table.

I'm glad you brought it home. I think it is gorgeous on you and hope you keep it. Don't shorten it. Assume movement will flash your ankle and your shoe.

Adriana

Great. Pull on and ready. Try it to wear like it is. Because I was thinking: if you shorten it how does it work with the lenght of the overlay?
Both shoes are good.

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