Skirt length and middle age

Wendi1984

On another forum I frequent (not specifically about fashion, just general conversation), there was a conversation about skirt length. Many people seemed aghast at the idea an "older" woman (i.e., not in her 20s) would wear a "miniskirt". It was hard to figure out what exactly qualified as a miniskirt, but I suppose that really stuck with me and made me feel that I better avoid anything shorter than skimming the top of the knee. But that's very limiting, as the current fashion is generally higher than that - I suppose to balance out all the maxis out there. So I've been frustrated. I have rejected a lot of skirts/dresses I've tried on or seen online because they're 2-3" above the knee.

But Tracey, whose style I really like, wears skirts shorter than mine and looks great! And another 40s blogger also has been wearing the shorter length this summer.

Have I overreacted? I don't want to wear something so short I have to worry about wardrobe malfunctions, but 2-3" above the knee.

12 years ago

Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from MRL

Aziraphale

Veteran

I think it depends on several factors.

1. How flouncy is the skirt? Full, gathered short skirts tend to look more juvenile. A straighter skirt looks more sophisticated. (Unless it only barely covers your behind -- there's no way to make a skirt THAT short look sophisticated!)

2. What footwear are you wearing with the skirt? A miniskirt with pumps is a younger look than a miniskirt with flat knee boots.

3. Are your legs bare? Tights tone down the miniskirt.

4. How revealing is your top? A tight, low-cut top with a mini might look a little juvenile and/or "too sexy".

5. How long are your legs? Tall, long-legged women look very conspicuous in short skirts. I'm not saying a tall, "older" woman can't rock the look, but it's going to draw more attention than a petite woman in the skirt, simply because the petite gal has less leg to show.

For the record, I'm 40 and still wear short skirts. I wear them with flat knee boots, though, or flat sandals, and a loose-ish, non-revealing top. I feel like I need to tone down the sexy everywhere else because of the amount of leg that shows with a mini.

Also, I have to say that minis are no longer my favourite. Even though I still have great legs, I feel much more sophisticated and womanly in a knee-length or midi skirt.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Aziraphale said. With the additional note that it really depends some on your work, your community, your leisure activities. I say if you enjoy wearing a shorter skirt and it is part of your style, go ahead.

12 years ago

Anonymous

What Aziraphale and Suz said! I think if it suits you go ahead and just make the rest of your outfit less revealing to balance things out.

12 years ago

Susie

Veteran

Again, what Aziraphale said! I would add that there is a difference between a mini skirt (mid thigh or shorter) and one that is a couple of inches above the knee.

12 years ago

Wendi1984

Active Member

I'm thinking of casual dresses about 2-3" above the knee. I'd wear them with flat sandals in the summer, and tights in the winter, with either boots or flats.

I guess I could do the leggings under skirt look, but that doesn't seem too popular around here these days, and since it's so hot, I'd rather skip the leggings if I can.

12 years ago

Wendi1984

Active Member

Something like this:

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....1002#close

12 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I think 2" above the knee is not a mini-skirt - for that you need mid-thigh or higher! 2" above is completely appropriate - unless it is VERY body con.
I am in mid-forties and tend to avoid anything higher that 1" above my knee in summer with bare legs - somehow it feels shorter and more exposed that when I wear tights. In winter 2" above is OK for me - with tights.

12 years ago

Anonymous

Wendi, if you were born in 1984 as your name implies, you are not even 30 yet! The dress length you have in mind seems fine, but maybe not so much if you are over 60. Aziraphale, Sveta and Suz have great advice.

12 years ago

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I don't consider 2 or 3 inches above the knee to be a mini skirt either. If you are comfortable with it, go right ahead. I'm 46 and wear that length bare legged in the warm weather.

12 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

I also do not consider 2 - 3" above the knee to be mini. To me, mini is mid-thigh, i.e. fingertip length, or two - three inches longer than that. Mini is what teenagers wear and what is sold at Forever 21 and the like. Generally, stores/departments geared to women and not teens may carry short lengths but not true minis. Of course, where a hem hits depends on one's height! I am 5' 1", so when most people look at me they are looking down such that any skirt I wear will look a bit longer.

12 years ago

Wendi1984

Active Member

Actually, 1984 is the year I graduated high school. I think I will be more open to a cute dress that's a couple of inches above my knees, but stick with what I'm wearing now for the most part - knee length and maxis. I will definitely try a dress with leggings when it cools off.

I think part of my issue is that I am 5'7", with longish legs, so they do feel rather bare in a shorter skirt, although I'm wearing shorts with a 7" inseam sometimes, and they seem fine.

12 years ago

cciele

Veteran

A few inches above the knee sounds quite reasonable to me, but wear what you feel comfortable in! I often see girls constantly tugging down short skirts or shorts, and that seems kind of uncomfortable and a bit silly

12 years ago

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I am very conscious of making sure it falls within a few inches above my knee as the shortest skrits and will not succumb to anyones rules that I who graduated the same year as Wendi need to change that. Then again, I am not necessarily trying to look sophisticated in them either... To me they are more flirty and fun for my sassy personality.

I have to laugh as I consciously make sure they are not too short at my age and as the parent of a 22 year old daughter...On the other hand, I know several women in their 60's who rebel against the idea of any rules on skirt lengths... Then again they were always the rebels...

12 years ago

Lantana

Veteran

Rebel here -make your own rules!

12 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I'm so short that 3" above my knee is mid-thigh! LOL I prefer my skirts to hit just at the top of the knee, but if somebody else wants to rock a shorter skirt I ain't gonna be mad at 'em.

And I do wear short shorts in hot weather!

12 years ago

always trying

Veteran

Skirt length depends more on how one looks than age. I have little knee bags above my knees, so I never wear anything that doesn't cover them, unless I wear tights that definitely hide them. So with length just at knee they are above knee when I sit, but the bags are gone then too> Also don't consider 2 to 3 inches above knee mini either..also length depends on the occasion.like would you wear a real mini if you were in a court room or a corporate board room-or political campaigning ....

12 years ago

Anonymous

Another 1984 graduate here! The dress you posted looks absolutely appropriate to me. It's looseness and the fact that you would be wearing it with flats will de-bombshell the length and keep you from looking like MDAL (mutton dressed as lamb). A tight or body-con dress that length worn with stilettos would send a completely different message, and maybe that's what the ladies on your other forum were envisioning.

12 years ago

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Just saw another over 40 blogger today rocking a shorter skirt, here
http://mrsamericanmade.tumblr.com/

12 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Also class of '84 and I think it really depends on the individual. I do prefer shorter skirts with flats though.

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I think a mini is a couple inches past the derriere. I don't like to see them on anyone, unless they've got leggings on.

That said, I'm really tired of Kate Middleton showing her knees. I would like her to grow old now.

12 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Wendi, that striped drawstring dress seems perfectly appropriate for a woman in her mid-40s. Not twee at all. In fact there are probably some older women -- 50s, 60s -- who could wear that dress well. Feeling good about one's legs sans stockings is probably the key. It doesn't look like the kind of dress that you could wear stockings with. It's very casual, and to my eye would look best with flat sandals. Perhaps gladiator sandals?

I also want to emphasize that while I think there are guidelines for age-appropriate dressing, they are just that: guidelines. Not rules. And even if you do want to call them rules, there is always a woman who breaks them and looks fabulous doing it.

There's also an element of personal taste involved. A look that strikes me as too girlish for a middle-aged woman might be somebody else's idea of perfectly good taste.

12 years ago

I love leggings

Member

For me skirt can be worn by women at any ages. What matter is how comfortable she is in that skirt she's wearing. I still wear mini-skirts too but with leggings underneath.

12 years ago

Laura

Member

I just bought a cute purple dress that's not form fitting but not flouncy. It's about 3" above the knee and shows my shoulders, one of my best features. I'll be 60 in Oct. and I just decided to start going out again. Is this too short to wear? I'm 5"4' and 102 lbs. I was going out by myself. Is that a no-no? I don't want to look like I'm hungry and looking for a man.

11 years ago

Anonymous

Laura, you might post your question on its own thread. Could you link to the dress?

11 years ago

Echo

Veteran

While I prefer to wear dresses/skirts that are no shorter than mid-knee, I also see plenty of women older than I am rocking above-the-knee skirts. It very much depends on the person and the outfit, NOT the age. And I agree that a mini-skirt counts as mid-thigh or higher.

11 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

Over 40 is a BIG age group to lump together.

For what it's worth, I wore my skirts 2-3" above my knees until my late fifties. With my short legs and long torso, a shorter skirt gave me a more balanced look when I wore flats. I did find myself starting to restrict the look to more casual times, though, as I moved through my fifties.

Once I turned sixty, somehow the look just didn't seem to fit my style anymore so I purged all my skirts, except for a couple of longer ones that skimmed the top of my knees. My legs didn't change that much in one year, but my style sensibilities did. Now, in my mid sixties, I'm finding mid-knee just seems to suit me better, so all those knee-skimmers were purged this spring, except for two very casual sports skirts that I'll wear instead of shorts on car trips and the like.

I guess what I've learned is that, if you are questioning the length of a skirt when you see yourself in the mirror, it could be sign that you are transitioning. Maybe enjoy the shorter length for another year or two, but don't be surprised if your eye starts gravitating to a longer length.

11 years ago

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

I'm 2 years older than you, and I agree with everyone here who says it's the person and her style, the occasion/venue, the particular outfit combo and the way the pieces are assembled that matter, NOT the age.

However, leg length and body measurements are going to matter a lot. I'm petite and have to look for shorter items generally. I know darn well that the way something looks on a model is going to be hanging a lot lower on me. I can't even consider most things because they are simply cut for someone with 6" more leg and I am not going to pay more for less fabric all the time with alterations (to say nothing of the proportions getting thrown off accordingly).

And I also agree with @rachylou--I think some short skirts aren't a appropriate on *anyone*. The thing today is that there actually isn't one "current fashion." The things that are marketed on Forever21 for instance are in their own style bubble. Juniors styles are often actually pretty odd and ugly and frequently not at ALL connected with what's going on in the adult fashion world. I wouldn't pay any attention to them.

All skirt lengths are current right now. Some shapes, though, are more fashionable than others, but you can find all kinds of shapes whether they look modern or not, because somebody's buying...

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I am over 40 and wear miniskirts, as well as above-the-knee skirts (i.e., a few inches above the knee). I think a lot of it has to do with the style of the overall outfit. If you pair the miniskirt with some classical, tailored pieces, it will not look too juniorish. I wear even skater skirts, and I prevent them from looking "too young" by wearing them with a very classic button-down cardigan. I am short and need a little extra height, so I don't pair them with flats, but I do pair them with very simple booties that have a 3" heel. The booties actually create a little bit of leg shortening in front due to the way they "cut off" at my ankle, so that tones things down.

Wearing with tights, as has been mentioned, is a great way to make a short skirt more "serious." But in the summer, I wear them without tights.

In short, I sure wouldn't worry about it. If you are comfortable wearing the skirt, I say go for it! You really can't lump everyone into one category.

11 years ago

Day Vies

Veteran

Short is a relative term. I think it depends on how great your legs look. Even then opaque and patterned tights in cooler months allow those who don't feel so blessed with great legs to wear shorter lengths. I believe it all depends on your body's proportions, your personal style, and level of comfort. There are teens whose legs I don't want to see simply because their legs look awful. Age isn't the arbiter of who may and who may not wear a particular skirt length. I'll be 40 in a matter of months and I have no intention of putting away my short flirty skirts due to my "advanced" years.

11 years ago

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