Should I ditch my above the knee dresses?

[BadForBusiness]

I have a lot of clothes, which I've built up over the decades, and tend to bring back out of the back of the wardrobes as the fashions come and go. However I'm running out of space and could really do with ditching some.

The obvious low hanging fruit are the (slightly) above the knee dresses, some straight, some almost bodycon, some skater style. I used to wear them to work pre pandemic, but I'm now 55 and a short pear shaped size 12 and I'm wondering whether they'll ever be wearable again, even with super opaque tights.

On the "ditch" side, age does make a difference.

On the "keep" side, I wonder whether I'm over-influenced by the fact that daytime hems have now been very long for several years so I don't see other women wearing shorter dresses. And my calves and ankles are great so having them on display is flattering.

I wear above the knee dresses and I'm a similar age. If your legs are good enough, why wouldn't you?

Yarbles to trend and age-old appropriateness! Do they look good and feel comfortable? Keep the dresses that do, donate/eBay the ones that fulfil neither criteria. If you find you're left with, say, three plain black shift dresses then choose one to hang on to.

just wear them! From a fellow 55 year old

I saw a woman (40s/50s) today in tweed shorts or a very short skirt and tights and boots with sunglasses and red lipstick. She looked great and made me want to dig out that look again. Wear what flatters you not just because it's fashionable.

Everyone saying 'wear them!' are ignoring the fact that the OP clearly doesn't feel good in them, and needs space. It is natural that your body changes shape as you get older, and it doesn't take much for something that used to look good, to now seem blah. Having stuff you don't wear clutters up your wardrobe so you can't see the wood from the trees.

Don’t ditch all but ditch:

• body con
• skater

keep:

• straight shift dress, even if above the knee. Think about heel height though. The lower the better

I'm about to turn 50. I wear above the knee skirts/dresses. I have a good figure, petite and size 12 too. I wouldn't go out wearing a skirt that barely covered my backside or tops showing too much cleavage - that I leave to the younger generation! However, I certainly don't think 55, is time for a twin set and blue rinse!!! You wear, what you feel comfortable wearing. If pairing a bodycon dress with opaque tights, makes you feel more comfortable then do that.

I feel the about skinnie jeans, although they say that they are coming back, I still have mine, but I don't feel as comfortable in them as I did, my knees seems be more bony sticking out more in the skinnie, I'm trying to find casual trousers instead, I did just buy a pair of mango wide leg jeans which I like, and flared leggings for lounging around at home.

Yes that's the problem. I love clothes but I don't actually want to "defy convention" or look Capital F Fabulous on a daily basis. Especially at work I want to stay within normal bounds. .

My issue is that I'm currently recoiling at the idea of flaunting ( ™️ Daily Mail) my geriatric knees in public but I genuinely don't know whether that's a permanent feeling or whether it's influenced by the fact that I haven't seen the knees of a woman over 25 in the daytime for five years, since the summer of The Zara Dress. Short dresses don't look tarty so much as old fashioned.

But will we all suddenly decide next May that anything below the knee is inconceivably frumpy?

Also, on the practical side I find longer skirts more comfortable when I'm sitting down, so that makes short skirts, especially tighter ones tricky for anything other than a cocktail party.

I hate the current horrid longer style of dress and skirt. Also hate the horrid wider legged jeans and trousers. I’m keeping my straight/skinny jeans and shorter dresses because I think they look much better on me. I am at peace with this.

I’m just doing the opposite lately. I’m 46. Just been getting rid of my longer dresses and getting shorter ones. I’m a size 18 and my legs are not great. I still think I look okay.

Agree with that.

I am currently trying to update my wardrobe currently, so have been paying a lot of attention to current shapes, what looks good, etc.

I think shorter skirts and shift dress shapes are coming back in but anything too fitted/too short will look a bit dated.

Can you style the skater dress/es in a more contemporary way, eg with oversized blazer and flatter boots? If you can’t ‘contemporise’ them, and you enjoy fashion, life’s a bit short to hang on to clothes in case they come back into fashion. I’d sell or donate.

Me too!

I recently bought a dress from Biden in the sale it came below my knees, sort of half mast. Awful. Had it tailored above the knee, so much more flattering.

I am 58, and 80% if my skirts and dresses are above the knee, because that's what suits. I did dabble in a maxi dress, but it makes me look huge......too many layers, too much fabric.

Wear what suits, not what is in fashion.

I'm 42 and really don't feel comfortable in above knee dresses anymore. It's depressing to admit that. I'm only a size 10 so it's not a let's situation - I just feel they look really childlike and out of place on me now

God, dont let age be a deciding factor! If you love them and think you will wear them again then keep them. If you dont love them and cant see them being worn then off to the chazza they should go.

I have some mid thigh dresses that Im quite happy to wear with opaque tights. I dont think that being over 50 matters at all.
TBH I have everything (dress and skirt) from mid thigh to ankle length and I love them all equally. Only thing I wouldnt wear is a proper teeny mini.

I happily wear above knee skirts with opaque tights in winter. But if it doesn’t feel right it’s not for you.

I declutter clothes a lot as I can’t cope with deadwood in my wardrobe and the way I do it is to get showered and dressed with make up on a feel good day and put things on - if it feels good, keep, if not, charity shop.

Dont think age matters so much, it depends on your knees and shape of your legs. My knees look bad and just above knee length drawers the eyes to them. Opague tights limit the negativity a bit. Even some of the younger newsreaders look iffy.

59 here, last night I was in flared leather trousers that I've kept from the 90's hoping I'd fit into them (thanks Mounjaro:-) and a gothic look sheer lace sweetheart neckline blouse from EMP.... I got so many genuine compliments I was buzzing.
Today im in a long jumper dress, wool trilby from a charity shop, tan leather riding boots.
Wear what you feel good in...Life is too short xx

Slightly above the knee is a deeply unfashionable length at the moment - so I wouldn’t want to be wearing those at any age.

And also they’re the worst length if you don’t adore your knees.

Proper mini skirts are much more contemporary. I’d keep those - if they’re either good quality or just really cute and ‘flattering’.

I have a vague sense, just in the ether, that short is coming back. Maybe because I’m just sick of frumpy looking baggy midaxi length?
Anyway, I’m in my 40s and have started digging out denim minis ( like mid thigh) and little tailored shorts again, to wear with thick tights and boots. I like it, feel like a tough girl again rather than an Amish schoolteacher.
I don’t think age is at all relevant to skirt length.

Agree about slightly above the knee being unflattering on most. Just below or way above is best.

If you are not sure buy some vacumn pack bags from amazon and store them away.You will know if you missed them in a years time if you have had to unvac :)I'm 52 though and wear skater dresses, black blazer and boots or chunky loafers to work all the time.I'm finding it is the multitude of maxi dresses I own that I'm wondering if I'll wear again.

I am 59, a size 14 and fairly short, my legs are the just about the only thing I like about my body, more shapely than the rest of me. Long dresses drown me, make me look even shorter and fatter than I am, so I will be sticking to shorter lengths. I think the key thing is to wear what suits you and not worry too much about whether it is fashionable.

I’ve just got back into mine after finally finding some highish ankle boots I can tolerate after needing a foot operation and only being to wear sandals or trainers.
I am going to buy more as I remember how much I love them. I’m 55, size 14 and in proportion with a nice waistline and five foot one.
I still love all my midis too.
My friend made a suggestion for me which to wear once more all the I’m not sure if I should keep dresses and anything I felt more than 7/10 in to keep and ditch the rest. So I did this and found it great advice and got rid of all my dresses that made me feel more 6/10 or less. The out of 10 isn’t for looks but am I comfortable, not sweaty, does it suit me, is it practical, modern etc?