WIW-Mid Thigh Dress - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW-Mid Thigh Dress

Gennifyr

I hesitated on posting this all day because of the mid thigh skirt thread. I like the colour combo and decided to go ahead and share it. Besides, Sandra Bullock is 50 and wears mid-thigh and Zooey (a couple months older than my 33) wears cutesy and mid-thigh and they both look fab.

The first photo is just the outfit and the second includes lines to illustrate some measurements.

So the top line on photo 2 is my crotch line. The bottom line is where my middle finger hits (skirt length rule). I'm also wearing bike shorts underneath.

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15 replies

Latest reply was from E

K. Period.

Veteran

(Don't tell anyone, but I like the skirt length too and I think it looks cute on you. I'd wear it with flats to give it a hint more age appropriateness ON ME, but I'm older and not Sandy.)

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think it looks cute on you and totally appropriate, but I would wear shorter skirts if I actually had the legs for them, even though I'm closer to Sandra Bullock's age.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Thumbs up from me!

rabbit

Veteran

Looks good to me. I really like the classic colors and the silhouette.

I think if you take photos from the front, side and (if you can) the back with your face included, just for you yourself to look at, you will get an idea if there are any little tweaks you want to make in terms of aesthetics and what feels most 'you' at this moment in time.

I think there are some implicit assumptions under the age appropriate guidelines that don't really hold up as universals under close scrutiny and can have some troubling undertones and history IMO. It is worth comparing the image you want to project to the world to what you are wearing on camera, for yourself if for nobody else, but I think the other thread showed that you aren't alone in questioning these assumptions and giving yourself permission to decide what works best for you case by case.

I think in general my approach to fashion guidelines is a) consider it thoughtfully, b) try it on, c) decide whether it's a useful or not useful tool.

Emily

Veteran

Cute and not at all too short.

catgirl

Veteran

It's lovely. Not tight or revealing, and I would wear this length at 48 (today!).

tricia w.

(website)

I love this on you, and think the mid thigh length works.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It looks great on you. But I basically agree with everything rabbit says.

Gigi

Veteran

I think it looks great, not too short and not inappropriate. I like rabbit's views on the issue.

As far as heels go with shorter skirts (I wear some midthigh skirts too, as you may have noted in the other thread), I think experimentation is necessary. It seems to me that there are some heels that work OK with shorter skirts, even fuller skirts like you have. If the heels are simple, or a little chunky, or read more "cute" than sexy, I think heels can work. I think we just have to trust our instincts. I wore a pair of Vince Camuto booties (3") with my skater skirt the other day, but the booties were very simple. They cut my legs off at the ankle, so they actually probably helped tone down the outfit in a way by "stumpifying" my long legs (I have long legs in relation to my torso). I didn't think that the outfit looked "trashy," which can be a concern when wearing short skirts with heels.

I love your color combo too. :^)

Day Vies

Veteran

I love this combination. I also adore a fit and flare dress with emphasis on the waist. How delightful. I also think the mid thigh length of the dress is so cute.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I think the dress looks great for casual wear - I don't think it's too short on you at all

Gennifyr

Thanks ladies! I appreciate all the input. I tried my only pair of tan flats with it first. They didn't quite go.

viva

Veteran

I think this looks great on you, and you have wonderful legs -- a must for this length.

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I think that length looks great on you! I don't think the mid-thigh issue is a rule for everyone. My thighs have a specific curve that makes a skirt look "off" if I show it. If I didn't have that curve, I'd wear shorter skirts!

E

Veteran

I love what Rabbit said!

Whenever the topic of 'anti-style descriptors' comes up, almost everyone on the forum lists 'cute' as something they don't want to be. I completely understand that, and if I worked in a traditional job I'd be aiming to avoid cute as well. But for my current lifestyle, I find it much easier to just work with my inherently cute elements (small size, round face, etc.) than against them, and just enjoy the clothing I like despite its 'cute' associations, because it doesn't matter if people underestimate me at first glance. In fact, I like being more approachable in a lot of situations, as I've been told for most of my life I have an intimidating personality! At first I was nervous to post outfits, thinking all of those who didn't want to be cute would not be impressed with my style, but instead the forum's been incredibly welcoming and supportive.

Yes, it is a shame when our preferred silhouettes/clothing items have connotations we don't particularly care for. I find it annoying that full skirts are considered little girl-like, when for most of history women have worn such silhouettes. Or that pointy collars are considered grown up & serious/business-like while round ones are childish, even though my round face & short neck look a million times better in a flat round collar (aka peter pan) than the ones you find on traditional button up shirts. Luckily, I can ignore such social assumptions for my daily life though, and adjust my clothing accordingly when I need to make a different impression!

Anyway, my point is that if you feel comfortable in dresses this length, and it doesn't impact your life if some people think it's too short, just enjoy them. The outfit looks lovely on you!

(For what it's worth, my mom is turning 54 this year and wears her skirts above the knee, probably around this length, with small heels because she prefers the proportions-she's 5' 1". She never looks inappropriate in my eyes!)