Proper length for long skirts

Gigi

I just bought a maxi skirt, and it needs to be hemmed. What is the best length for long skirts? I seem to recall seeing somewhere that the skirt should either just touch the top of the ankle or end just below the ankle. I am very short (5'2"), if that matters. Thanks!

12 years ago

Dressing

12 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Day Vies

Veteran

I think it depends on what shoes you plan to wear with them regardless of your height. A skimpy hem on a maxi skirts ruins the effect -- as a result I think the ankles should be covered and the hem should end just above your feet (touching the tops of your shoes).

12 years ago

Alassë

Veteran

I agree with Day Vies.

12 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I would probably wear it with a variety of shoes--flat sandals, wedge sandals, etc. So the shoe heights will change. I didn't want the skirt to be so long that I was restricted to wearing it with heels, since sometimes my legs need a break! So do you think the best thing to do would be to have the hem touch the tops of my flat shoes, so that the skirt is not too long to wear with flats?

12 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

This is a toughie, because most skirts I see around town are not maxi. I think this comes from practical concerns -- maxi skirts are hard to get around in, and how do you keep the hem from getting wet? An exception might be the summer maxi. I see those sometimes. There's still a lot of fabric flapping around your legs to contend with, but I can see the appeal because they're cool and breezy. I don't think I've ever seen them worn with anything except flat sandals, though, and they have to be hemmed to around the ankle bone or they drag on the ground when you lean over. Tops of shoes may look the best, but it might make you crazy.

What kind of maxi are we talking here? Is it a formal one? Or something you plan to wear in the day? If it's a day skirt, I'd vote hem it as short as you can (just above ankle bone) or it'll be either dusty or muddy.

12 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I agree with Aziraphale--take a moment to consider how and when you will be wearing it and why. Is there a more practical length that will still meet your style goals? It's interesting, because you can have pants hemmed to be really long, and sure, they'll get wet in actual ice &slush & stuff, or be a problem if you insist on having them 1/4 " above the ground, but when you move or sit they'll ride up and be shorter. Full skirts are more problematic because they can actually hang lower with movement or sitting.

12 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Aziraphale, here is the skirt:

https://www.lulus.com/products.....08906.html

It is quite lightweight, so I'll probably have to save it for the spring and summer. I will probably just wear it for casual wear--which is why I wanted to be sure that I have the option to wear it with flats.

The model is 5'8", so the length is fine on her, but I am 5'2". It looks to me like maybe the hem is hitting right above the ankle on her (?).

I don't want to feel crazy, as you mentioned. :^) I want what looks good but also what is practical and will lend itself to the widest variety of occasions. The color of the skirt will hide any dust, thankfully. But I really don't want to be tripping over it or feeling like my feet are getting caught up in the fabric. However, the slits at the side will help minimize that problem, I think. I thought about comparing its length to another maxi skirt that I have, but the two skirts don't sit at the same spot on my waist, so it's hard to compare them.

12 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

The double side slits do change the look and function quite a bit, do they not.
In that case there will be so much leg exposure that the idea of where the skirt "falls" becomes less of a style feature.

12 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I had a maxi skirt just like that once, only denim. Back in the late 1990s. I liked it a lot, but it only really looked right with flat sandals or chunky boots with a small (1") platform. The side slits do a lot for movement, and the fact that it's not voluminous means you won't have such a big problem with it draping down onto the ground when you lean forward.

I'd say hem it to just above your ankle bones. It will look like a maxi, but will work both practically and aesthetically.

I'm interested to hear how you get on with your skirt. I eventually cut mine off because, despite how much I liked it, it didn't get a lot of wear due to the fact that I always felt my movement was a bit restricted in it. Also, I'm 5'1", and it made me feel shorter.

I still wear it as a cut-off, btw.

12 years ago

Patty

(website)

Member

I agree. This maxi skirt should be just above your ankle. Not too long that it gets in your way, but not too short that makes it look awkward. Whether you go for flats or heels, ankle length should rock both.

12 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Aziraphale, I suppose if I get annoyed with the length, I can make it into a midi, seeing as midis are supposedly going to be big next year. I know that long skirts aren't very petite friendly, but I really love them, and so I try to find a way to make them work. That is one reason why I chose this skirt--it has vertical detailing, a straight cut, and slits on the side, all of which I think draw the eye to the vertical dimension. And I knew that since there wasn't a border on the bottom, I could easily hem it to whatever length I wanted.

I like the idea of hemming it to right above the ankle. Thanks for confirming that, Patty. I think that will allow the most ease of movement but will be long enough to still create an unbroken line from my hips to my feet.

12 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Long skirts are tricky, but they can work. Sorry, I didn't mean to be a Debbie Downer! The unbroken line from hip to ankle should help. I'm interested to know how it works out.

12 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I found a tailor who should be able to hem it. I'll take it in this week or next.

You weren't a Debbie Downer, Aziraphale! I've worn long skirts in the past and have looked very frumpy, so this skirt will be an improvement, actually.

I do think that it looks good on me except for the length. I'm going to try to find a tighter-fitting cropped top to wear with it--Angie said that that works well with longer skirts if you don't want to look frumpy. The model was wearing one in the photo. I would have bought that crop top, but I think it was made of nylon or polyester, and I don't like close-fitting garments made of synthetics. Also, they didn't have petite sizes, and I'm not sure how the shoulders would have fit. Ugh, sometimes you just want to give up finding clothes when you're petite...so much work.

12 years ago

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