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Skirt too young?

Sara L.

Veteran

I had problems getting dressed this morning, which is unusual for me. First I tried an unlined cobalt blue pencil shirt with this sweater. I decided that I felt like a sausage with all the layers under the skirt - tights and slip so the tights didn't stick to the skirt. No picture of that iteration. Then I tried with this flared skirt that I'm now thinking maybe shouldn't be in my closet. I never wear it because I can never find quite the right outfit. I'm wondering if it's just too young looking for me.

#1/2 - Flared skirt that I'm unsure about.
#3 - What I eventually finally settled on.

What do you all think of the skirt? Too young or just not the right combination? Thanks for your advice.

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Dressing

27 replies

Latest reply was from Nannabella

Tina

Veteran

I think you look fine in the skirt outfit. I wonder if trying pumps instead of tall boots would help? Hm. Maybe if you tried a looser tee with a long cardigan? A chunkier sweater? Leggings instead of tights with the boots?
I love that sweater and the outfit you ended up wearing is fabulous on you!

Astrid

Veteran

I love the sweater with the pants, I think you look great in #3! I like Tina's suggestion of trying the skirt with a loose tee and long cardigan or a chunky sweater. I think the skirt looks good on you, but maybe you need to tweak the rest of the outfit a bit until you find something that feels right to you.

Ann in New England

Following, since I own a skirt like that and have the same dilemma...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Skirt is not too young. Nice outfit.

#3 is FABULOUS.
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Aziraphale

Veteran

Hmm. Well, the problem might be that the hemline is too short for that shape of skirt. I wear full and flared skirts sometimes, but with a just-below-knee hemline, which counteracts the flouncy girlishness of that skirt shape. I find that I am only comfortable in a shorter skirt if it's more structured.

I agree that the pants outfit is much more grown-up! Very nice.

Joy

Veteran

I don't think the skirt is too young for you but something in the proportions of the outfit seems off. The skirt fits you well and looks like it is worth playing with to find an outfit that you feel fab wearing. Love #3

Sara L.

Veteran

Tina, Astrid - I like the suggestions of a tee and cardigan and also a chunky sweater. I tried it with booties and somehow that was even worse than the tall boots.

Aziraphale - I had the same thought that if it was longer it would look less juvenile and more grown-up.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I really like the skirt, and I second the point about playing with proportions to get a look with which you're more comfortable.

celia

Veteran

The skirt doesn't look too young. Maybe some other day you will come up with a better outfit for it.
The final outfit is fab.

rachylou

Veteran

I like that skirt - and that sweater. (And the pinkish pants with pointy shoes!)

But back to the skirt. I don't think it's too young at all. I think it's spot on age wise. I'd maybe not pull the sweater down so much, tho.

Current

I agree that the skirt is not too young! You just may have not found the right combination yet.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like the skirt on you (with that sweater) and do not think it looks too young. However, I have tried skirts like that also, and I get that same feeling that maybe I look a little silly in a flippy skirt. I have concluded it's just me.

Katie ryan

Skirt looks great on you! Would also look amazing with some black heels or ankle boots.

old chic

The sweater is gorgeous, but not with that skirt. Maybe try a little, not-too-tight, short jacket with high armholes and pointed booties or sleek, heeled MJs?

Anonymous

Both iterations look great. I like the skirt. Looks good. You just need to play with proportions a little, I think.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Okay, the final outfit is gorgeous on you. So no problem there.

I also really like the skirt! I think if you wore a flatter shoe or boot it would counteract the length a bit and then you could play with the proportions a bit more. That kind of flippy skirt can be so much fun if you get the outfit right.

Sal

Veteran

Chiming in to agree with the others.

Skirt is great and suits you - but I think a more structured top might suit it better, I could see a cropped blazer, or even a black turtleneck, or maybe a crisp shirt.

The top is wonderful with the pants and would work with a pencil skirt too.

harmonica

Veteran

Wonderful sweater! What Suz and Kiwigal said.

Gigi

Veteran

I wonder if in the flared skirt outfit, the problem is in the proportions. Since your sweater is dark at the bottom, and the rest of the outfit below it is black, the outfit effectively cuts you in half visually. I'm not quite sure exactly how to fix it, but maybe you could try wearing a shorter top that has a clearer demarcation against the skirt, or possibly wear nude hose instead of black tights to break up the long column of black. But I don't think it's because the skirt is too young looking. I would continue experimenting with different footwear, tights/hose, and colors/lengths of tops. Maybe you will hit on a proportion that makes you happier.

I will say that I do prefer your final outfit, though. It is definitely fab.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I like the skirt at that length. Yes, if it was longer it would feel less juvenile, but I have one that's longer and I think it's hard to style because it feels matronly! Try it with ankle boots - that will up the trendiness factor.

Dimity

I wouldn't have said it was too young either. I have one like that and I wear it with a black turtleneck and black pointy toed flats and it looks fun without being too girly. I could also see it with a black tee shirt and denim jacket when it's warmer.

jackiec

Veteran

I like the skirt how you've styled it. Only advice is maybe flat boots as others have said. I totally know what you mean. I have a summer weight flippy-type one, and never wore it until I finally hit the right combination paired with a black Zara Tshirt last year. Then it came out all the time!

Sara L.

Veteran

Thanks for all the advice! There's a lot to think about here. I'm going to play around with the skirt and try a bunch of options. Maybe I'll set up the tripod and take pictures that I can post. I don't think I have flat shoes that would work with tights. I have plenty of flats, but most of them are pretty casual (moto boots, sneakers, sandals, etc) and wouldn't work with the skirt for a work outfit.

unfrumped

Veteran

I am nodding with most of the advice here.
Outfit 1 would not stop me in the street to say, look at the gal in the too-short skirt. So no real worries, no fashion crimes are being committed at all--I'd probably see the overall effect as polished and smart.

But, for my own style I have aimed for mid- knee or just over knee for flippy skirts. I'm also a lot older than you!--so I found that the "mitigation" efforts were not worth it, didn't quite cut it, whereas when I found a slightly longer pleated (sort of flippy) skirt on consignment, black, I bought it and even had some alterations for fit because then I could have flippy and feel right in it.

For other outfit options, I think just casualizing and "loosening it up" it a bit with the idea of some kind of flat footwear and some more slouchy short sweater or a chambray shirt kind of look, would take away some of the cute/prim or go-go tendency and fit your style as energetic, youthful (!) and modern. If you find you just can't get that together in a way that feels right, or you feel you'd have to invest in items you wouldn't otherwise wear, then don't worry, toss it, and you probably want a tad longer skirt. Otherwise I think it has great potential.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I don't find the skirt too young at all Sara - I love the flared shape on you. I also love the outfit with the blush pants. Talk about a gorgeous fit and perfect PPL!

Marley

Veteran

I think that flippy skirts like this that are above the knee are kind of hard to style for grown-up women - but, I don't think that the skirt is too young for you! What I would do is pair it with a more structured, tailored top/topper - to sort of take the "flippiness" look out of the skirt and make it a little more edgy - or classic - depending on the type of top you pair it with.
I really love the sweater with the trousers and pointy shoes.

Nannabella

I like the skirt on you. In full disclosure, I own one very similar to it, so I may be biased! I do agree that there is something about the proportions of the outfit with it that is a tiny bit off (though I think only those of us who have had our eyes opened to proportion and such would ever think that--and then only after we'd been asked to study it). I've tried pairing mine with a couple of sweaters that are just slightly looser/boxier than the one you show here, and I think that may be a slightly more pleasing look to my eye, though I do need to take some photos of me to study!

Does the skirt have a fitted waist that hits at your natural waistline? If so, it may be that you could do a nicely fluid blouse or thin, nicely draping sweater tucked in, perhaps with a lovely belt. My own skirt is a tad too large at the waist for me to do this, though I wish I could! Time for me to visit the tailor, I think!

I've attached the skirt I have below in finds because I think the shape of outfit shown on the model could be quite attractive on the right figure and could also work well with a shapely cardigan on top.

As for the skirt shape itself and your age, I think it's fine. I'm probably a similar age, and I am quite comfortable with it with tights and boots, but I would not wear it bare-legged as shown below.

Bonded Jersey Flounce Skirt

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