Ever since last fall, when I pulled out my winter skirts only to discover I didn’t like the fit of one and then promptly ripped the lining of the other the first time I wore it, I’ve been limping and skimping in the Sunday wardrobe department. NONinspirational! Basically, winter alternatives can be reduced to:
- wool trousers, which I love. I have been diligently searching for another pair.
- jeans, which I’d rather not wear to church, but I do in a pinch. And believe me, I’m feeling the pinch now!
- dresses. A winter dress is a rarity in my wardrobe. So rare, in fact, that it doesn’t exist.
- which leaves skirts. And with as many skirt options as there are, why is it so hard for me to find even one that doesn’t leave me feeling frumpy and grumpy?
The skirt in my idiom, and I say this more for myself than for anyone else:
- is tapered, pegged, pencil, whatever you want to call it. I don’t mind a little do-flippy hem, but the full skirt on me is downright awful; A-line is a significant compromise.
- falls BELOW the knee, at the “hemline of supreme elegance”.
- has only tasteful and necessary slit(s).
- doesn’t cling to my legs and bunch up and move around when I walk. Also doesn’t have some dorky clash of sleazy underwear fabric “slipping” out from under it.
In desperation, I have begun collecting thrifted skirts, with the hopes of cannabilizing one or more to somehow piece together something that would work. I’ve found lots of cute prints and fabrics, but somehow when it comes time to actually cut or sew I end up painting or blogging instead! So, while I normally wouldn’t spend $15 on a thrifted skirt, when I found one this week that was lined and below-the-knee and tapered, $15 looked like a bargain.
Closer inspection revealed the bargain it really was: brand-new tags said $250 $100!
Admittedly, the peachy color and cotton/linen fabric make it more of a spring wardrobe staple than winter. But it rather looks like spring is here to stay this year, doesn’t it?
How would you define the perfect skirt in your own idiom?
Perfect skirt is graceful, bit of swish or drape. Makes you feel different than pants: more alluring, mysterious, romantic or whatever you like to feel. Wearable at least 2, ideally 3 seasons. Perfect also would be washable but that’s asking a lot!
I’ve been wearing skirts a lot this winter, after I resolved to do so. I needed tights and high boots and I made sure I got both. It’s still winter here, 29 degree high tomorrow.
My favorite skirt would have some swish. I like a fit and flare. A gored skirt is good. A-Line altogether too perky and stiff. I can’t wear full skirts unless it is a very thin silk or else it is a tiered bohemian skirt. Ordinary full skirts do some funny business in the rear. I have a mild swayback and flattish area with a low slung bottom. The tiered skirts look slim on top because of the flattish area I have and then have that seam with more fullness across the widest part and this works great but I hate the “idiom” so I don’t wear them.
I love pleated skirts but can only wear an accordian knife pleated one and I can’t find those.
I can’t wear stitched down pleats. I look fine from the front and the back is okay but more of my bulk is in the profile. So I have skirts with a pleat treatment in one area and I can wear those. I have one with pleat sections in front over each leg and I switch the zipper around and prefer it so that one set of pleats is over the front of one leg and the other set of pleats is in the back.
I look good in straight skirts from the front or back but the side view is horribly blocky. So I can wear a straight skirt that is of thin stretchy knit or one where there is no lining. I tend to wear them just above my kneecap.
A fuller A-line, with or without gores, pleats or (moderate) gathers, and ideally with a waistband or none, rather than a wider yoke. Material in a happy medium between structure and drape. Lined is always handy. Length is to that hollow spot just below the kneecap.
My very close second choice is identical to your ideal. Most of my skirts are of that sort.
I wear skirts whenever practical in-season, but I just can’t do it through a Chicago winter, no matter what some people say about layering tights and whatnot. And it’s definitely still winter here – high of 8F yesterday.
Yikes! You have really had winter, haven’t you? We in the Northwest have been sadly disappointed by the lack of snow this year (except most people seem to prefer the dull, rainy brownness – wonder why they live here?). Normally, I’d be expecting another six weeks of winter or more, but it really does look unlikely.
At any rate, I think I’m coming to the conclusion that I can get by quite comfortably with wool trousers. The only trouble with that is I was given two fabulous pairs of tights this year: brown in bamboo and charcoal heather (footless) in Australian wool. If I ever hope to wear them, I’m going to have to come up with a skirt. Ugh!
Thanks for sharing!
After MANY years of wearing skirts, I think I have finally come up with what’s most flattering on me.
1. Long (ankle length), either straight or fitted with some flair.
OR
2. Just below the knee–fitted with some kind of hem detail, like a little ruffle. Nothing too flashy.
I have experimented with many styles over the past year. Assuming that “knee length” skirts were all created equal, I tried a just-grazing the knee style and found it seriously wanting. That extra inch or two makes all the difference. It’s hard for me to sit, bend, or kneel comfortably in a barely-knee-length skirt. I also found that anything with bulk at the waist was a total no-no for me. I’m not naturally tiny in the waist (even at my very thinnest) and pleats or fullness just make me look chunky.
My favorite skirts recently have been thrifted Old Navy. They seem to have flattering styles every now and then.
I definitely prefer skirts with a bit of a flip–straight skirts don’t do anything for me except make it hard to move. A smooth waist or no waistband–no gathers or pleats, which just add bulk around the middle. I’m still trying to figure out what else I like. I think I like a bit of detail, but so far don’t have many items that fit that description.
I think I’m fortunate that I can wear a range of skirt styles–basically, anything that isn’t gathered at the waist is something I’m happy in, both in look and feel. I wear skirts much more than I do any kind of trouser, and more than dresses.
That said, I won’t go shorter than kneecap length. It may look great standing up in front of the mirror, but the minute I sit down it’s a bit ‘too much information’.
I’ve done amazingly well in charity shops for skirts. Actually, that seems to be the rail I’m drawn to first. For Christmas, I found a lovely silk-rich black velvet, lower-knee length straight skirt with some gorgeous burnout detailing at the hem. A great whacking £8, in perfect condition.