Skirts + short torso?

LemonLine

How do you style skirts with a short torso? For a while I had just accepted that skirts just don't look good on me, but the curiosity is burning. All the untucked shirt outfits are paired with pencil skirts, but I'd like to hear other ideas.

3 years ago

Dressing

8 replies

Latest reply was from SarahD8

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I share the short torso concern with you, and my solutions are to wear tops that are on the fitted side and *just* hip length. I rarely ever tuck tops — it’s just laughable on me (busty and big hips combined with a short torso). I generally stick with tonal or at least low-contrast top-skirt pairings to avoid an abrupt horizontal break at the waist or hip. I wear skirts mostly in summer, and mostly casually styled, so one of my tactics is to wear a skirt with a tee knotted at the low waist/high hip — it’s easy to adjust the knot so the hem falls at the most flattering spot, and it sort of creates the illusion that my waist is lower and helps improve the proportions on me. I love pencil skirts but most are too dressy for me these days, so I’m wearing longer midis, mostly at least a couple of inches below the knee, and often with an asymmetric hem. I’ll try to find example pics.

3 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ok, some pics if they may be helpful...

I also find that adding some vertical element — a scarf, a vest, open jacket, etc, helps elongate the overall line of the outfit, mitigating the short-torso look.

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3 years ago

Anonymous

Janet, this is truly a "picture tells a thousand words" material, super interesting.

3 years ago

slim cat

Veteran

I used to do shorter skirts for the same reason of short waist- not it’s midi skirts with what Janet best described tactics . The tucked tee/ tank in similar color could be a bit pulled out to conceal the waist line.

3 years ago

Anonymous

I do the same as Janet. Similar body type but I'm much shorter!
Also, I prefer longer skirts to be straighter or thin material to collapse back on the body. I don't like skirts much above knee length, as it's just too much horizontal going on for me.

3 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Skirt outfits in particular make me appreciate the power of diagonal and vertical lines to help create more pleasing proportions. Try experimenting with scarves, and open vests and jackets to help disguise the horizontal break that defines the torso. And a semi-tucked top or the side knotted tee really help create that diagonal line that also “softens” the waist/hip transition.

3 years ago

Sal

Veteran

What good advice Janet. I also like tops to the high hip. There is a sweet spot where they look really good.

On me either a mini or below the knee works. I don't like on the knee or "just above" the knee usually.

3 years ago

SarahD8

Veteran

I like a fluid fit or boxy knit top that hits at the high hip, with definition at the hem (so like a welted hem, but doesn't have to be super tight -- in fact better if it's not). To my eye this works with either narrow or A-line midi skirts.

A narrow skirt can also work with a longer top, kind of a vintage drop-waist vibe.

And if I wear a skirt above the knee (I only have one, it's a stretchy knit), then a top that hits around mid-hip.

But always a looser silhouette on top. I have a flat chest, thick waist, and straight hips, and there's almost nothing I like on me less than a top that's fitted through the torso.

3 years ago

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