PDL? (Perfect Dress Length?)

Marlene1

The blog post about layering under dresses made me think about my problem with my black sleeveless sheath. I wear it all summer with sandals or heels, and I'd like to put a shirt under it and wear it with boots. But the length is a problem - if it's short enough to wear with knee-length boots, it's too short to wear with shoes. I'm middle-aged, so I'm vigilant about skirt length.
Has anyone else dealt with this? Do you hem for the winter and un-hem for the summer? Tape up the hem with that fashion-tape stuff? Thanks!

15 years ago

Dressing

5 replies

Latest reply was from RoseandJoan

Anonymous

I haven't yet tried the layered dress so have summer dresses separate from cool/cold weather dresses. My winter sweater dresses are the shortest of all so get worn with tights or leggings and boots. The length hasn't been a problem because I usually wear flats in the summer. My boots have more of a heel than most of my summer footwear. If a dress is a bit too short, I wear nude microfishnet hose in the summer, but that doesn't happen very often.
I just remembered my year-round black sheath dress. It hits the kneecap and seems ok to me with shoes or boots, but I should post pictures to get an opinion. I'm over 60.

15 years ago

Becky

Veteran

I wear all my skirts and dresses at about the same length: between the middle and the top of the kneecap. I wear them in summer with shoes and in winter with boots and have no problems. Do you wear your hems below the knee?

15 years ago

Kim

Veteran

On the other hand, I was just wondering what the shortest hem length should be for someone of my age (48)? I realize I can't (and don't want to wear) minis, but what is the shortest a woman can go and still look classic? I have a houndstooth check that falls just a couple of inches above the top of the knee cap. In my government town that's acceptable as business attire length (according to the experts in my city). I would think that would a good gauge, but I might be wrong. (wouldn't be the first time).

I like my legs and don't mind showing them so that's not an issue. I work hard for them! LOL

I like longer hem lengths too, but this year the skirts and dresses are so short they are mostly considered tunics by me! LOL

15 years ago

Marlene1

Active Member

Thanks for the replies. For a dress I wear with heels, I like the skirt right at the top of the knee cap. For knee-high boots, I prefer maybe 1 1/2 inches shorter.
I don't know why that makes such a difference to my eye, but it does!

15 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

How about if you switch your knee high boots for booties, would that work with your existing dress length?

15 years ago

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