Please help choose midi skirt length

I wanted to have a fall-winter skirt option that is not a fitted pencil skirt. I do have an AT black trumpet skirt but it's still a bit fitted through the hip.

The style of this AT "midi" skirt looked like it might work for my shape, so have it in 3 sizes to try--a 2, a 4 and a 4P. It's in a navy wool blend with a small widely-spaced pinstripe. It is a kind of gored construction.

I like the fit and easy fullness a lot- it is a comfortable, striding-skirt--and will keep one of them. But I found myself liking both the longer and the shorter, for different looks, and have to make a choice!

Pics 1-2 are the 4 regular
Pic 3 is the 2 regular (I think will prove too snug for tucking in)
Pics 4-8 are 4P
Pic 9 stock photo

The longer is more like,well, a midi and sometimes I think it looks more elegant. But, it also seems like it might overpower and the shorter Petite is flippy and easy to wear and may be more versatile. It might be mroe wearable with sheer hose in spring, though I've targeted it for tights mostly. I showed with both because it's hard to see the length with tights.

Note the model photo to me is not actually what I thought of as a "midi" but I don't know the definition. So I think the P fits more like that.

In some ways 4P overall fits better because I'm "between sizes" at the waist and hip. The regular 2 fits great in waist but is snugger through high-hip than I should probably go, whilst the 4 would need taking in at the waist. Of course the 2 looks a smidge shorter than the 4, so a bit less volume.

But then I can't tell if it's better to have longer skirt length for that 1/3-2/3 proportion thing.

Sometimes I feel like a nut...sometimes I don't!

I would appreciate Fabber eyes--should I "go long or go home", or go with the possibly more "wearable" Petite?

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10 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

My favorite here is photo 2 for proportion. I love the easy elegance. But I am not an expert on this topic.

Liz A.

agree with AG

rachylou

Pic #2

Gigi

I like the 4P. I think it gives better proportions. With the longer version, the skirt seems too long proportion-wise when the top is tucked, but when the top is untucked, the top and bottom are roughly equal in length, which cuts you in half. I think the petite version solves this problem. I do prefer the skirt with a tucked top.

Maneera

(website)

The 4 regular looks more elegant. I love the proportions in #2

Shelly

Active Member

I choose #2 I love the proportions and the fit looks good! I really like the top you have chosen and being tucked.

cheryle (Dianthus)

I am not much help because I like the look of both sizes with the top tucked in. It is a personal preference issue and depends on the footwear. They both look very good.

kkards

i prefer the longer length of the regular 4….
and i'm with you, i don't think of a skirt that hits at the knee as a "midi", to me "midi" means below the knee. mini = above the knee, maxi = to the ankle and midi = in between the 2. skirts that hit at the knee are just skirts, but then again, i'm old and can remember when my mom went back to work and she was required, yes required to wear skirts or dress to meetings.
(hmmmm, sorry didn't mean to hijack this tread, or to get off topic).

unfrumped

Thank you fou input!
I may do some more tryons with other tops& maybe lighter gray tights.
I'm in that boat of liking the length but worry about getting too dark and heavy a look in winter. I won't be wearing heels like the model! Of course the photos are dark and there's no movement, which is better IRL.

lyn67

1 and 2 is a great length for midi! Hah, loved your signs made with your fingers for recon the different lengths in the picties, I do this quite often for myself, too:-)).

Anonymous

I'm with others on voting for pic 2--this size, tucked (or shorter top) work best to my eye. I love the polish of the look on you and would definitely keep. The same look in pic 6 skews a little schoolgirl to me, but that could be my bias from years of being forced into wearing a uniform.

And great idea on the hand signals: i never thought to do this--indeed had no idea what they were until Lyn pointed it out--and will try it myself.

Ginger

I actually like #2 the best as well. If I didn't have it to compare to, the 4P would be just fine. But #2 hits a good "elegance" point that the slightly shorter skirt doesn't. It's also not what the "midi" seems to be nowadays, what I used to call tea length. That is mid or lower shin. #2 is definitely above that point, so you have plenty of leg showing for good proportions.

This is a terrific skirt! I'm glad it's working for you.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

#2 hands down because of the way you styled it. Must tuck top. And the length is more elegant. Gorgeous on you.

Colette

I say pic #2 is my favorite. I prefer the look of the longer length.

To me, both are good, unfrumped. But tucking is a MUST!

Oh, such lovely help from YLF!
Thank you all and thank you, Angie, for critique.

This choice works for me. Longer skirts are so hard to find, and this one has a nice weight and drape to make the length manageable. Yes, the fabric is not a divine 100% wool, so I can't predict how it will hold up, but I shall take the plunge.

The petite length isn't all the way to skater-skirt territory, but yes, it isn't even quite fully below-knee and has a flippy (? flippant!) vibe. So not shocking or anything, but not the "elegant" look.

Also, interesting to hear the tucking comments. "Tucking opportunties"
are a goal, because I go untucked so much of the time due to whatever are my "issues" with pant waist and rise and hippage and so forth. So instead of beating myself up over that or buying more of the same and duplicating that look over and over, I decided to add a silhouette that gives me "value" in another way. And tucking gives this skirt outfit needed structure. So I already have plenty of top options for tucking, and ooh, belts !

MovingFashionForward

I haven't looked at what anyone else has said, but I myself LOVE 2 the best. Definitely 2, because of the proportions. I do think it looks better with the shorter/tucked-in top and the longer skirt. Fab!

It doesn't work in either case with longer untucked tops, because that spoils the proportions.

Sarah

Also, BTW, 2 highlights your gorgeous figure in a way that the untucked versions fail to.

I really love tucking, myself. It is a simple solution to a lot of things like rise and shirttail length/shape, etc. It looks great on you!

viva

#2. You must tuck! I'm speaking from the position of someone who is both short-waisted and rectangular, which means I really cannot wear this style at all. I love to see it on others, though. This skirt really screams for the waistline to be highlighted: so please do so! #2 is fabulous for that reason. I also really, really like that the bare leg or nude hose allows the skirt to stand out even more. I prefer #2 to the looks with opaque tights for that reason as well.

Aida

4R works best with a tucked top (as in #2, as everyone's already said ^^), realllly nice elegant length on you. I also quite like the 2P actually, particularly with hosiery. I actually prefer the 4R sans hose since my personal preference is for shorter skirts with hose and longer skirts without, but of course that's just me. I think you'd get good mileage out of either and it sounds like the 4R is exactly what you're after.

Beth Ann

I like the 4R when tucked, but the 4P when untucked. It's about proportions more than length! I'm so happy to see a variety of skirt silhouettes again!

Beth Ann, I know what you mean. I could almost use both! I wear most pencil skirts with untucked tops so I may go with my tucking opportunity. Thanks for comments.
viva, thanks, I do have a hosiery dilemma because I run so cold. I can for sure try non-opaque hose in fall weather. Will have to experiment with top+hose+footwear colors and tones.

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