Skirt lengths - frumpy or foxy?

[aarghhelp]

I was interested to read people's accounts of different desired skirt lengths on ahem, the Boden threads.

I am 5ft 9 tall but have about a 30-31" inside leg. So tall, long body, relatively short legs. I have generally felt I looked better in a long skirt and in the past have tended to opt for suits with long skirts. I haven't thought of long skirts as frumpy.

I was a bit surprised that some people do see long skirts as frumpy and are very keen to avoid skirts below knee for that reason. However, when I've been buying clothes recently, I just haven't been that keen on the longer skirts that I've managed to find.

Maybe when I was a bit younger the skirt-to-the-floor look managed to give off a different vibe, a hopefully-cool quasi Goth sort of thing.

I have been buying trousers as bottom halves for outfits more recently as they seem to hit the right note much better.

Has anyone got any opinion or advice on this?

[AvengingGerbil]

What is the received wisdom for fat thighs fat knees fat calves and no ankles to speak of, please? (Think sturdy tree trunks.)

[Horton]

I always go for below the knee skirts as even though I am fairly slim I have knees like knobbly old tree trunks. I can get away with a shorter skirt with the aid of leggings/opaque tights but really don't think it's my best look. Best for me is just below the knee or just hovering on the ankle, I think.

[Fimbo]

I have a large behind (think J-Lo) and pencil skirts make it look worse.

[Pollyanna]

I am the same as you - long body, short legs (5ft9 tall) I either have to wear short skirts or just on the knee. I have quite fat knees so above the knee looks horrible.

I think ankle length or calf length skirts are a bit dull I'm afraid. I go for bias cut or a line skirts (prob also a bit dull) or pencil skirts for work. I also have some very short ones which I wear with thick tights and boots

I think you are meant to go for skirts that stop at the thinnest part of your leg/thigh. this is meant to be the most flattering

[GetOrfMoiLand]

I think an inch makes all the difference . I wear pencil skirts as the most flattering, however they have to be just slightly below the knee - above that I think it looks tarty, below that looks frumpy.

I am nearly 6 foot so finding perfect lengths is very tricky, once I find a skirt which is the correct length for me I treasure it.

Never wear long skirts any more, however used to a lot in my youth, with boots. DP bought me a maxi dress a couple of summers ago, it was lovely and long, right to the floor. However I stood on the hem whilst walking up some steps and tripped up and landed flat in my face (long skirt + wooden soled wedges + 3 glasses prosecco = twat) so never wore it again.

I do have some minis which I wear with opaque tights and platforms but only in winter. Would never wear a mini with bare legs, not with this arse.

[aarghhelp]

I have been trying on shorter skirts. It has been quite a jolly process, as I have realised that just below the knee does quite suit me, and I appear to have acquired some halfway decent legs .

However, another complicating factor is trying to get the fit and flare right. My hips curve out a lot at the sides and my bum sticks out at the back a lot. If the skirt is too flared, it over-emphasises the bulk of my hips and bum. If it is too tight, it erm, emphasises my hips and bum. Skirts that skim over my hips and bum nicely tend to be too loose at the waist, because my waist is relatively small, 1 - 2 sizes smaller than my hips. I an wondering whether belted styles might help with this or whether a belt is inadvisable given that I am a bit plump, and would just, erm emphasise my hips and bum...

[veronica123]

I'm 5ft 7 in my early 30's and have a slim boyish figure ie. no definition. Having worn mini skirts quite a bit in my youth, I preffer something now with a bit more length. My legs are slimest about 3 inches above my knees so any skirt length from that point to knee length looks good on me, not to mention I find these lengths more comfortable than mini and just below knee lengths. The other length I like is ankle length as I have small ankles and it's good for days when I want to cover my legs. Always with a heel on this length to avoid looking frumpy. I go for straight or pencil shapes as I am slim (a-line for ankle length) and avoid high waistlines as I'm not blessed with height. Belts also help to fool me into having some sort of waist.

[purplepeony]

I am 50-ish and like knee length skirts which suit me a s I am only 5'3" and size 10. Anything longer makes me look ancient. I used to do mid-calf and when I look back at photos, I think "Oh dear"! Nothing's more aging when you are ahem, older.

I think if you are young, you can get away with floor length as a "look" unless you are also over weight.

I suit skirts that are just an inch above the knee, as I have slim calves and always wear boots/thick tights or ballet pumps with skirts.

[purplepeony]

jajas you are still a girl at 44.

I do not wish to boast but peeps tell me or think I am a lot younger than I am,(mid 40s) so I can get away with things that other 50 yr olds might not. (sorry if that sounds boastful).
Just above the knee is not young as long as you have decent legs and/or wear boots. Looking older is often the result of wearing what you THINK the average 4-50 yr old ought to wear!

[purplepeony]

that should be 40-50 yr old

[KristinaM]

hope - i think that the type of skirt you describe ( a line, just below knee with swirly bits) works well for the less curvy figure because it adds fluidity. with curvy halter neck top it would be fab, esp if you have decent norks to show off

mayeb you need fluid fabrics - movement without being girly/frilly ( hard to carry off if you are tall, well built and ..ahem...over 30)

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

I am 5'10" for me skirts either floor length, or just below/on/above the knee, mid calf very unflattering imo.

[NoahAmin]

well I am an utter freak.

Am 5 7 and have 31 inch legs.
BUT its more to do with overall shape imo.

Have wide hips and slim legs so if i have a full skirt or a long skirt it hangs off hips making thighs look WIdE. And me like a ship in full sail.

SO am i the only person who can only wear ON knee ( or above ) skirts, anything lower looks frumpy

[purplepeony]

noah- no you aren't- see my previous posts.

I can only wear short-ish skirts, as at 5'3" anything long and too full makes me look fat and dumpy, as well as ancient.

[NoahAmin]

ah yes



yes good legs are a FANTASTic heirloom as you can get those out a lOT longer than nice upper arms or whatever

[hoxtonchick]

amen to good legs!

[Jenski]

I haven't read all of this, but I think shoes are very important in determining skirt length.

My rule is always short skirt and flat shoes. Long skirt (anything below knee) and heels.

Boots are good.

Don't know if that is any use to anyone

[talbot]

Skirt length utterly depends on shoes, body shape, age and type of skirt. You can't possibly make blanket rules about it.

[Bleh]

most of the time I wear skirts which are just below or on the knee, and as far as I'm aware, I don't look frumpy (though DP has complained a bit, but screw him, he's never sat down in a short skirt to realise that bare thighs are touching minging bus seat). Today I'm wearing a narrow, floor length skirt, which I do kind of like. I was wary of 3/4 lenth skirts, thinking they look odd, but then DP's DM lent me a dress that length, and it actually looked really good (was sticky-outy skirt, and I was wearing heels).

[Radox123]

I have chunky thighs and big calves (I walk/hike a lot) I want to wear skirts but have no idea what looks good! Oh, and I'm 5 foot two.

Help!

[scroobiuspirate]

i stood in front of the mirror the other day, holding a skirt in fornt of me, dropping it and raising it to see if i could 'find' that correct length. Like gok does.

no go, looks crap at any point on my stout fat legs. i have nice ankles, thats it. I LIKE how those ballet type skirts look on pear shaped women, why don't i like them on me tho?

Then i shove my jeans on and forget ever being able to show off my boots. sobs.

i love quirky clothes, retro looks etc, but have never ever found a nice skirt for me.