Sorry to be needy, but I think I've had a realization : )

pil

That I should wear dresses instead of skirts. Many photos attached to support my conclusion but I'd be interested to know what you think. I posted a couple of pencil skirt photos early on, and a dress photo yesterday. Just for the heck of it I also took a photo of myself in my little black dress, alone and with sweaters. I grabbed the sweaters for more of a silhouette reference, they aren't necessarily what I would wear with the dress. Maybe I'm completely missing the boat, but I think they work better than the jacket/pencil skirt. Am I on to something?

Picture 2 is only there because I like the exposed zipper on the back of the dress.

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13 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from pil

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think the reason the black dress looks so good is not only the perfect fit, but also the silhouette near the knees. It seems to taper in a bit like a pencil skirt, where as the skirts you are wearing are straight or almost a-line. Perhaps seek out true pencil skirts with more of a tapered bottom?

The other thing is that with the dresses, there is a column of color which is elongating. The skirt outfits break up the line.

13 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I think you look great in both, and it's nice to have options, so I would not cross skirts off your list.

That black dress fits you great and is quite flattering. I like the higher waist line. So that's a thought too: what about trying a high waisted pencil skirt?

Also, these photos may be misleading because in the dress pictures you have your hands on your hips (creating white space between outfit and your arm), and in the skirt pics, they are down at the sides.....

13 years ago

cciele

Veteran

I'm thinking it's the vertical column of color that CocoLion mentions. It's definitely flattering, whereas there's a definite horizontal break in your skirt outfits. As a rule of thumb, I think people generally try to avoid a horizontal line across the widest part of their bodies (either through color or where the hem falls). Do you like your skirt outfits better if you do not button the jackets up?

That being said, I don't like skirts for myself and basically stick to dresses

13 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

I agree with the others that there are many variables here. The other thing to note is that your dresses outfits all sport some color, whereas your skirt outfits are both more neutral.
I also noticed the same thing as cciele... you have your jackets/cardigans opened over your dresses, but closed over your skirts.

I am with cciele too though, I stick to dresses as they tend to be much simpler to style. I own exactly one skirt and it gets worn maybe 2-3 times a year.

13 years ago

Anonymous

I think I just had your same revelation!!!! I see how the skirt / jacket combo cuts you in half.....you really look longer and leaner in a dress! I'm only 5'4" and I think this has been why I sometimes feel squat in my outfits. I have several dresses but always found them harder to fit than separates. Thanks, Pil!

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I agree with the other posters. It's not necessarily that skirts are less good on you. It's that you would want to pick the right skirts and then style them a little differently, perhaps, than in the past.

You do look great in your dresses, though! No argument there!!

13 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I also agree with what was said above. That long line of the dress look beautiful, and you really look nice in them. But, maybe try mixing up the style a bit on the skirts. Maybe try wearing your cardigans open over the skirts just to see what it looks like. Or not buttoning up the jacket.

13 years ago

Vildy

Veteran

There's more fluidity in your dresses and also the toppers you have with your dresses,
The jackets with the skirts look more structured, plus the buttoned up factor. You look somewhat more contained/restrained in the separates and more graceful/relaxed in the dress silhouettes. Y'know, so long as we're peering closely.

13 years ago

Veteran

I wouldn't give up on skirts too quickly either. I think the issue is just as much the jackets you're wearing with them. They are creating a strong horizontal line in a bad place. Wearing them open, wearing cropped jackets, replacing them with draped cardigans, wearing a matching top to create a column of colour, these would all be ways to make the skirts work better.

13 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

I think you look lovely in these two dresses. However #6 wih the skirt and jacket works beautifully in terms of silhouette. I think you and I share the same challenge with skirts and for me it is getting the topper right. Dresses are much simpler and require less styling. You can see from the pictures that the jacket in #6 creates a lovely longer line and shape whereas the jacket in #7 creates a more boxy look that is perhaps not as flattering as #6. Also creating a column of color under the jacket works beautifully on you regardless of it being a skirt and top or dress:)

13 years ago

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Ditto CocoLion and Suz. When I see these lovely jackets, I KNOW you could wear a great pencil skirt. The tapered hem may be the key.

13 years ago

KathyL

Veteran

That LBD is so flattering! I agree with the ladies, I think you can rock a pencil skirt but maybe need to leave the jacket unbuttoned Or create a column of color with the blouse and skirt to have a longer uninterrupted line.

13 years ago

pil

Veteran

So many responses! Thanks to each and every one of you who took the time to read and offer such thoughtful comments. I guess the skirt thing relates back to my patch pocket thread with the styling of the jackets, and I am not yet connecting the dots. I should have taken new photos with the jackets open and a more relaxed pose. The skirt pics were from my first picture thread so I was still uptight. Kind of like my first garage sale outing where I walked through with arms crossed so I wouldn't touch anything. Now I feel free to paw away. Maybe I'll actually loosen up and show my face here eventually.

My indecisiveness is really shining through here. The skirt "realization" had me all but convinced to return the two Halogen skirts I bought through the NAS and get a dress or two. Maybe I should still do that and look for a more tapered hem in a good stretchy fabric to go with the lighter jacket. AND a more fall/winter appropriate dress. I don't need a lot of this type of apparel. Enough for some dinners out, a few holiday type parties and the occasional wedding and/or funeral.

13 years ago

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