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Original poster

A- line skirts. Why?

57 replies

OrmIrian · 03/03/2008 10:04

I thought they were dead and buried in the 70s. For a good reason. Because IME they make anyone with a figure more curvy than a lolly stick look as if they have the backside of a hippo. There is a woman at work who has taken to wearing them recently and it really really isn't good. Especially when they finish at the knee. I went looking for some work skirts again at the weekend and everywhere I looked where flocks of short A-line skirts. Surely I'm not the only person who finds it disturbing?

OP posts:
brimfull · 03/03/2008 10:11

some a=lines are worse than others,needs to be gently flaring out if you have any kind of arse.
They are good at disguising tummies though.

themildmanneredjanitor · 03/03/2008 10:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SheherazadetheGoat · 03/03/2008 10:13

i like them. am actually thinking about knitting one in hemp.

Original poster
OrmIrian · 03/03/2008 10:14

Oh yes ggirl. I agree with that. DH bought me one for Mothers Day for some unaccountable reason of his own - cream linen knee-length. I tried it on and it made my waist look tiny and my belly nice and flat - in fact it was fine until I looked at the back view . So it's going back. Even DH couldn't tell me I looked great in it

OP posts:
talkingmongoose · 03/03/2008 10:14

O dear, i really like them.

I think they define the waist.

But I probably look like a hippo

Original poster
OrmIrian · 03/03/2008 10:16

Sorry mongoose- you may well look lovely. But I have HIPS even though I've lost quite a bit of weight and I do look very hippo-like.

OP posts:
brimfull · 03/03/2008 10:18

God I can't imagine my dh ever buying me a skirt...he would be petrified.

Kathyis6incheshigh · 03/03/2008 10:19

I have a small waist and fat legs -they're great

nailpolish · 03/03/2008 10:20

i quite like them

think they look best with tops tucked in and heels

FrannyandZooey · 03/03/2008 10:20

I've got no waist, no bum and wide shoulders; they look good on me, give me a bottom half as well as a top
you couldn't find them anywhere 5 years ago so I am v pleased they are back again

Original poster
OrmIrian · 03/03/2008 10:20

ggirl - I don't think my DH will again

OP posts:
talkingmongoose · 03/03/2008 10:21

I have hips too Orm - never really look at my back view, perhaps I'd better start.

ladette · 03/03/2008 10:22

I'm an a-line skirt fan. I have big bum, thighs and hips. Waist is bigger than I'd like but slimmer than the other parts, so I find a-line skirts flattering. Or thought I did til I read this. Will try them on tonight and ask the only honest member of the household (10 yr old DD) what she thinks.... DH & DS would just say "it looks fine" without looking.

Mercy · 03/03/2008 10:22

A gentle A line suits me too!

It is annoying though when all you can find is one or 2 styles per season and neither of them suit you. Last year it was all kaftan/tunic tops which look terrible on me.

fishie · 03/03/2008 10:23

i love them, have no hips or bottom and a gigantic tum. they show off my lovely legs and distract from my huge shoulders.

bookwormmum · 03/03/2008 10:25

I'm wearing one today (size 14) and it makes my bum look smaller than did my boycut jeans I had on yesterday .

I think it depends what you wear them with - a hip length jacket or top helps break up the back view a bit.

Original poster
OrmIrian · 03/03/2008 10:25

I hated them too Mercy. I have wide shoulders so anything that doesn't have a waist makes me look like a box. I need a waist but not something that emphasises the hips so much. Ideally I need something that shows my waist and my legs without making a big deal of my shoulder and hips.

Maybe I'm just awkward .

OP posts:
bookwormmum · 03/03/2008 10:28

I never used to have hips or a waist til quite recently but now I can't wear pencil skirts, so I'm happy with a-line skirts. Pre-dd I wouldn't have touched them with a barge-pole.

ladette · 03/03/2008 10:31

I got into skirts because I can't find trousers that fit. Must have tried on a couple of hundred pairs and moved to skirts out of desperation. a-line seem to be the only skirt style that suits, unless I can get a straight (not pencil) one that makes the lumps and bumps disappear. I envy anyone that has a greater choice of styles that suit them!

Drusilla · 03/03/2008 10:33

Me too - tall and thin with shoulders wider than my hips. A-lines balance me out

ladette · 03/03/2008 10:36

OrmIrian, so several of us have answered your "A-line skirts - why?" question. Am now worried that I might be the woman at work you refer to and that actually the look really bad on me. What should I wear instead? (Genuine question! I'm not very good on style, just thought I'd found something that suited)

Cappuccino · 03/03/2008 10:36

I'm with nailpolish

they do suit me

pooka · 03/03/2008 10:40

I love A=line skirts. They suit me. Have OK lower legs and ankles and waist not too bad. Fairly wide shoulders. They seem to balance out the larger bits while emphasising the smaller bits.

Original poster
OrmIrian · 03/03/2008 10:41

I'm buggered if I know ladette? I wish I did. Because I'm stuck in a time warp from about 10 yrs ago wearing pencil skirts - below the knee because nice legs or not I hate flashing them in the office.

I am fairly sure you aren't the woman in my office. She has no kids. TBH she is quite big as well but with the skirts she wore before it wasn't noticeable that she was somehow.

I am clearly in a minority. Perhaps I need to review A-lines..... but they do bring back hideous 1970's clothing memories. Perhaps it's my age as well.

OP posts:
snowleopard · 03/03/2008 10:44

Yes I love them too. I have a big arse but you just need to get the size and shape right - if it sits on the hip and flares gently it can give you a great shape and hide fat bum and thighs. They look great with a long cardigan or a coat with a nipped-in waist, and knee-length boots.