Perfect top lengths (PTL's)--do you struggle?

I have about as much trouble ensuring perfect top lengths as PPL's. Being able to scrunch up some of the light-weight longer tops helps, but wearing "outies" creates dilemmas- tops that go over pants with lower waistlines aren't the best tops for skirts. Sometimes it works out because, due to the skirts' waistband more at my natural waist, I tuck in more. But several types of skirts look best with that just-long-enough top worn out, so there is more skirt than top. Cardigans give me the same trouble.

My issue I guess is not that I don't know what top is better for what, but that I struggle with wanting things to be more versatile and to have fewer items overall. I guess that having a limited or disciplined color palette and limited number of items is helpful, because then you can have , gray long cardi and gray short cardi, or top, or similar. But I get over-eager and I want, black, brown, gray, red, etc in long and short versions.

I have started doing more belting, over a top worn out, over skirts. So I have specifically sought out a top or sweater that looks good that way and worn over pants, and I feel very "intentional" when I can do that. But mostly it can be frustrating to get enough mixing and matching, even when I cut myself some slack with Angie's advice not to think that every thing has to go with everything.

Jacket lengths are the biggest problem in some ways because they're bigger ticket items. In theory I can wear the same length jacket over dress and pants, but I feel very picky, as, this dress really needs a shorter, fitted jacket and not the everywoman blazer. It's not too expensive to have an array of sweaters for different PTL's, but jackets can add up, or feel like you're not getting enough wear out of them.

Does anyone else struggle with PTL's, and how do you manage?

13 years ago

biscuitsmom

Veteran

No advice, but I sure sympathize w/you, as I have the same issues.... ((hug))

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Yes, since I just started blogging last week, this issue came up. I am petite and believe that shorter tops are better for me, but have I have a real problem since I love tunics. Came to the conclusion that tunics work if I wear flats or bottoms the same color as my boots. I love jackets and am convinced that I need to search out shorter ones more often. That is my newest goal. I too like having different styles in loads of colors and have recently started thrift store shopping which makes this more affordable. Don't think I am capable of toning that down.
I have a recent post on my blog showing my search on how to make tunics work for my petite body...

milehighstyle (Linda)

Yes, I definitely have this issue. I don't know if there is a solution; mostly I have jackets and cardigans that work with pants and other jackets and cardigans that work with skirts and dresses. There are some that do double duty, but not a lot.

Suz

I SOOOOOO have this issue and it's one I'm just coming to recognize. (I used to be so clueless). I don't have the answer yet. Mostly I compromise somewhat unhappily. I do tuck quite often when wearing skirts, and even sometimes with pants. To wear a shorter jacket with pants I try to tone my (untucked) top quite closely to the jacket (and I keep the the pants at the same approximate visual weight, though not the same colour, necessarily, if possible). This seems to help it work, but I don't think it is my best look.

I don't have many longer (fingertip length or low hip length) jackets because they really only look good on me with a pencil skirt and heels (because of my proportions). My "longer" jackets are mostly high -hip to just below the high hip - length and if they are fitted at the waist they CAN work with dresses or skirts as well as pants, although it is not always ideal.

One style that seems to work pretty well with both is #4 in this thread: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....sia-jacket. The front of the jacket points down and it is a bit shorter in back.

You can see me experimenting with other jackets and skirts/ dresses here, too, though I don't show them with pants.

I will be watching this thread with interest!

unfrumped

Well, it's good to know I'm not alone, or completely crazy.

I think I'm working toward letting go of expecting too much multi-purpose. Since I don't like (most) cropped jackets with my pants, I didn't explore those much until recently, when I got 2 short-ish ( well, you have to start somewhere) jackets for dresses and skirts. I could see the shorter length really "made" the outfits, so I could finally defrumpify more and have more fun, and then use other longer jackets or tops that I think look better with pants.

My "moto" foray so far, from springtime, is a WH/BM rayon short moto-evocative jacket with sort of ruffle lapel that I actually wore with jeans as well as dresses!

Suz, I did what you had suggested--I wore the black jacket with a black longer T over dark jeans (with brighter accessories) and I thought that worked, since I don't as much like the high-contrast top sticking out below the cropped jacket look.

But I think that is my gateway moto-ish item to trying some different length combos, and I can see more options now, if the right piece came along.

Aida

Yes!! Unless you wear your skirts at the same place as your pants, there's not much getting around the fact that you'll need different tops for skirts vs. pants when wearing them untucked; skirts simply need shorter tops. Although we've been programmed to desire max versatility from items, it's certainly fine (and not against that spirit) to have some tops that work for skirts, and others that work for pants. If you find that you keep reaching for a longer top and grudgingly belt it because it's too long, that might be a good candidate for picking up a short version as well.

Jackets and toppers are a bit trickier. You can wear longer jackets with pants, but often if you wear them with skirts or dresses you'll end up with an oversized vibe and slightly funky proportions (not sure if you're into that). So skirts and dresses often require shorter jackets. But you can still wear these shorter jackets with pants as long as you have a longer top on underneath so the short-over-long layering looks intentional (I'm doing this today in fact); because of this I find cropped jackets more versatile overall than longer ones.

Caro in Oz

It isn't you. This is why I tend to stick with pants.

Aziraphale

You're not crazy. I have tops that go only with skirts, and tops that go only with pants. And I have tops that go with short skirts but not long skirts. My answer is to not worry about it. I don't wear a lot of sweaters (I'm always too hot), so mostly we're talking dressy short or long-sleeve tees, blouses and button-front shirts. Also several cardigans. I can live with having certain ones that only go with either pants or skirts.

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