Suit skirts: Does this happen to anyone else?

AnnieMouse

Every time I wear a suit-style skirt (just at or above the knee, more straight-style pencilish skirt), I have a problem wherein it rides up incessantly (sp?). the skirts fit well at the waist and hips and bum, but whether or not I'm wearing hosiery, as I walk, the skirt rides up to terrifying heights and becomes almost indecent. I like the clean lines and versatility of such skirts, and I reach for them often... but then almost always regret it by the time I get to the office.

So my questions are:
1) Am I just skirt-impared? Or does this happen to you, too?
2) How do I make it stop?!

11 years ago

Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from cat2

Anonymous

That happens to me too, with the added bonus of twisting around sideways also. I think it is just the movement of walking, especially if you have a big gangly stride like I do. I guess I need to learn how to walk like a lady!

11 years ago

Anonymous

My pencil skirts ride up unless they're on the big side. If they don't "grip" me across the hips and bum, they just hang nicely (but this looks dowdy so I don't know what the answer is).

11 years ago

Nebraskim

Veteran

Does this only happen with pencil skirts? Do the skirts in question have adequate slits, etc. that allow you to walk, or are you hobbled? Do you wear a slip; are the skirts in question lined? Does this only happen with suit skirts or with any pencil skirts (such as a denim pencil skirt)? Lots of questions but not many answers. I have one skirt that kind of does this, and it's a little bit pegged in at the hem, and not straight up and down like other skirts. It is annoying.

11 years ago

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

There was a petite blog - either Alterations Needed, or Extra-Petite (I think) who talked about the twisting sideways phenomenon - there is supposed to be a way to stop it. I will have to see if I can find it. I think essentially it means the waist is too big.

The ride-up, depends on the type of fabric, and/or the lining of the skirt, I think? I don't really know how to prevent that, because I've phased out most of my suit skirts in recent years, as well as any skirt that needs continuous adjusting.

11 years ago

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Aha! http://www.extrapetite.com/201.....hirts.html

11 years ago

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Hmm. When I looked up how to stop a skirt from riding or bunching up, 'wear a slip' comes up frequently. Annie, have you tried that?

I admit, I only wear slips when the issue is the sheerness of the skirt.

11 years ago

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Hmm...are your skirts lined? Do you wear slips when they're not?

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hmm. Angie also did a post on the waist twisting issue. If the skirt twists around, the answer is to wear skirts that fit at your natural waist (vs. your hips). They don't twist as much then (assuming you have a fit).

The only skirts I've had ride up on me are unlined skirts made of thin knit fabric, when I wear knit tights. I find that unbearable. Even with a slip they tend to do it -- or the slip does -- making everything a bunchy mess. So I just don't wear that combination.

I have a big gangly stride. But my lined pencil skirts don't ride up.

11 years ago

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Found Angie's post on the twist.... http://youlookfab.com/2008/08/.....ing-skirt/

11 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, I have this problem a lot too. For me it has to do with having big hips and a small waist. Angie's solution of wearing a skirt that hits at your natural waist technically fixes the problem, but I really dislike the look and feel of things at my natural waist so I persist in wearing lower rise skirts. I don't have too many pencil skirts as a result. I do have one that does not go anywhere, but it has no stretch and is really fitted in the waist, hip, and below the hip. I think the last one is what fixes the problem in this case - it's so tapered that the skirt kind of can't ride up because it won't fit higher up. But on the other hand it's kind of hard to walk in that skirt.

A slip or lining can fix bunching/static but IMO it makes the rotating issue worse because it reduces the friction between the skirt and your legs/tights. Tucking a top (or your layering cami) into the skirt does help a bit but not always enough. I have as a last ditch effort sometimes safety pinned my skirt to the cami.

11 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

This problem used to drive me batty, but I assure you having a good fit at your waist makes all the difference

11 years ago

jayne

Veteran

I have this happen, and worse. When I sit I feel it is even worse. and since I get very focused at work, I sometimes discover my skirt is pretty indecent after an hour or two. Solution, no pencil skirts. I try to go for a line or straight skirts which give my thighs and bottom more room when sitting

11 years ago

AnnieMouse

Veteran

I had never thought about the lining - the skirts in question are not lined! Thank you! I am typically a HUGE fan of slips (I have 5, in carying lengths and colours), but with these particular skirts, I find slips tend to bunch and look... rumpled and a bit frowsy, which defeats the sleek lines of the skirt itself.

I usually wear these at my natural waist, because I have a very long upperbody, and a waist-fitted skirt helps me feel like my legs are less stumpified - so the twisting hasn't been much of an issue. It's the riding up that's crazy-making

11 years ago

kkards

Veteran

i solved the problem by not wearing skirts anymore! i didn't have the riding up issue so much as the twisting issue.

11 years ago

AnnieMouse

Veteran

Nebraskim, they aren't true pencil skirts, but I'm not sure how else to describe them. I'm not hobbled in any way by them. To me, the skirts are just the classic straight skirt that most skirt suits seem to have. There might be a slight tapering at the knee, but by and large, they're just... Plain old suit skirts.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Yes, it's the lack of lining. I can't stand how often they fail to line suits these days. Even Neiman's sells unlined suits!

A slip should help.

11 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

*hiding in the corner*

I don't have this issue. Yes, I have to smooth them a bit when I stand, but no riding up while I walk. No twisting or turning. I wear unlined knit ones from Ann Taylor, tube skirts from VC, and fully lined skirts from Talbots.

But then, skirts love me and pants hate me. I think I would prefer it the opposite way!

11 years ago

Anonymous

Yes, it is a side effect of being so curvy, for me. The only way a skirt would not ride up on me, is to buy them really loose everywhere and I'm not going to do that. Skirts need to be tapered in on me, if not, I look quite wide and I don't like it. I am also in agreeement with Diana in all accounts. ETA: For instance, below are pictures of what I wore Monday and yesterday. As you can see, both skirts are form fitting but not snug ( no crease lines, the skirt falls), yet, they both ride up. It does not matter if they are lined, unlined, fall above or below waistline etc. They ride up because they are form fitting. Again, it is all in my design. My solution, gently pull them down when no one is looking
Thistle, I think yours don't ride up because you prefer a fit that is less tapered at the bottom of the skirt. That allowance helps a lot.

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11 years ago

Anonymous

Interesting thread! I've pretty much given up on skirts, primarily because I never seem to be able to find the perfect tops to wear with them. I did, however, order a tweed boot skirt that I hope won't be too long. I think it will go with some sweaters and tops I already have. If not, I'll send it right back.

11 years ago

Von

Veteran

My natural waist is super high, so in order to have a non-shifting skirt that isn't indecent or a mini, it has to be a midi-skirt, not a normal pencil. Wearing it at my waist definitely eliminated all of the movement that came from trying to wear it where I saw models online and in catalogs wear them. Slips and lining also help so much in the war against shifting.

11 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Thistle, I see you in that corner and I'm joining you! (no problems with skirts riding up or twisting)

9 years ago

pegs

Active Member

Not usually a problem for me though I did once have a velvet straight skirt that rode up waaaay past immodest due to friction on the fleece type lining of my coat! Didn't realize till I took off my coat!

9 years ago

jeallyhead

Active Member

I haven't had this issue, but maybe it's because my suit skirts hit right at my natural waist. Since it's the narrowest part of my torso, there's really no place for it to go up or down. They do have a higher waist than I usually wear, but they fit well and are flattering when worn with the accompanying blazers, so it works for me. For skirts that are less tailored and sit lower on my waist, I definitely have the twisting problem.

9 years ago

AnnieMouse

Veteran

See, I'm not talking about the waist, though - I'm talking about the hem! it creeps!

9 years ago

Joy

Veteran

No problems with pencil skirts but mine are lined plus I wear a slip. I'll join Thistle and Staysfit in the corner.

9 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

I rarely have this problem either, but when I do have it, it is from unlined skirts.

AM, have you looked into a close fitting slip? My slips seem to hang on forever, so I was surprised last year when I went to buy a new one and saw how much more variety there is than when I last bought one. Something that is a closer fit will still give you the slip you need in a slip, but shouldn't create bulk. Maybe that will work?

Now, with that said, I've pretty much solved my problem by refusing to buy skirts without a lining.

9 years ago

fifties vintage

Member

There is no mystery to stopping a straight skirt from ridding up.

The secret is all in the fit and having a good quality lining in the skirt,
don't wear unlined straight skirts.

A straight skirt should fit snugly on the waist and nowhere else. Stand
with your knees together and hitch up the skirt at the side seams and let it go, it should slip back down again and hang from the waistband due to the lining and the weight of the fabric. A straight skirt should sort itself out by the weight of the material, you should not need to keep fiddling with it unless you have to do a high step and need to hitch it up.
If a straight skirt is tight on the hips or thighs, or its short and made of a lightweight material it is always going to be trouble. I only wear straight skirts that are made from strong suiting material as this type of skirt is subjected to a lot of stress.

8 years ago

April

Veteran

And in a pinch, it's always good to have a little packet of fashion tape in your bag!

Not a long-term solution for this skirt problem, but a way to prevent panic on days when your skirt is creating an "I see London, I see France" issue.

8 years ago

Alassë

Veteran

Old thread.

8 years ago

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