Skirt lengths for women over 50 & 60

58 Comments

1. Let’s keep women over 70 in the discussion. Thank you.

2. I wear knee-length, midi, and maxi length skirts or dresses. It’s all about style and proportions. I am 66, 5’6” and very slender. Can you incorporate in your blog a section on dresses appropriate for those ages 50s and up? Particularly women who are in their 60s and 70s. Some styles are just too youthful. Thank you! Love the blog.

3. Midi for me! I have large calves and narrow ankles. I prefer to showcase the most narrow part of my leg. No maxis! I don’t need all that fabric swirling around my feet and increasing the chance of getting tangled up and falling. Since my knee replacement a couple of years ago my balance is not what it used to be. I keep trying skorts but haven’t found one that fits just right and is flattering on me. Since I only wear shorts around the house (I really don’t like my legs) I haven’t put much effort into the skort issue. Have a great day and stay cool.

4. You are, Ann…we are all over 50 and over 60. I am about to be 71, so you are always in the discussion!

5. Thanks for starting us off today, Mary!

6. You as well, Peggy. Thanks for joining in!

7. To me, skirt lengths are similar to pant lengths. I don’t want a skirt that ends at the fullest part of my leg. So therefore, it needs to be above knee (which I will still wear in some styles),slightly below knee, or below calf, which is not really maxi to me but I am tall. Skirts, with their volume, usually are not in my adjectives of uncluttered, simple, clean…dresses can be totally different and fill those just fine. I guess that’s why I don’t wear a lot of skirt separates, and never a printed one. I wear pencils or a-lines and my dresses are not voluminous either. But I see many women in skirts who look very attractive!

8. Thanks for joining in Susan!

9. Interesting topic Pam. I loved seeing your bungee dress again. I liked your first post regarding the Chicos bungee dress so much that I had to check it out for myself. I went to my local Chicos boutique to see if they had the dress. They only had it in black, but I tried it on for size. I took both size 0 and size 1 into the dressing room. I only tried the 0. It felt a bit big, which surprised me, since I usually wear a size 6, which is equivalent to a Chicos .5. I was in love with the red that you modeled, so I ordered both a 0 and a 00. I kept the 00. It hits me right at the knee. (I am 5’4″.) I recently ordered the bungee dress in the purple size 00. I love the quirkiness of the dresses and the colors are gorgeous.

   I wear a lot of skirts and dresses. The great majority are knee length. I have a few below the knee – what I call midi length. I have a couple of maxi length summer skirts. Because I am relatively short, I think I look best in knee length items. I used to wear more maxi skirts until I saw some photos of myself in them. It’s funny how perspective changes in mirror vs photo.

10. This dresses are so easy and comfy, Kathy…great for summer! I did not know they had it in purple! Thanks!

11. I’m very short and petite so I tend to avoid midi skirts as they make me look like a little girl playing dress-up, I go for right below the knee. Also prefer plain fabric over l’âge patterns for the balance in style, add patterns to the tops. Great discussion Pam . What do you think of addition of belts? I love them for myself, but avoid big bow ties at waist.
    Sandra Winfield

12. I will be 73 in a month; I like my dresses an inch or two above my knee but that is not to say I don’t wear maxi or midi length. I live in the 19 inch skorts from Costco and Chicos all year round but I like the 17″ ones for golf. I believe the question is relative to the occasion (for me anyway!). If I am invited to a formal wedding, I will wear long (midi or maxi); if it is semi formal, definitely shorter. It’s so hot here that I enjoy short linen or cotton dresses in the sweltering heat. I am not self conscious about my legs at all (yet!!).

13. I think belts are great if you feel confident wearing them. For those who want to accentuate a waistline belts work really well. There are so many beautiful belts. Thanks for joining in, Sandra!

14. Thanks, Linda!

15. Midi length is versatile, flattering and fun. Show off those ankles and cute sandals! Maxi length for casual wear is less practical with all that fabric. I rarely see a maxi in Phoenix area. Skirts run overly long (why?), so even at 5’6 I often order petite. I’d consider a skort if it hit top of the knee.

16. That first skirt in your carousel today, the striped one from Talbot’s, is very much my style. A midi length is just right territory day to day. I never choose anything flouncy, but also avoid a pencil type though I adored those as a young working woman in the 80’s and 90’s. As to maxi skirts, they hold a special place in my heart because I associate them with vacation. They are so useful to shimmy on from poolside to grab a seat for lunch, or to dress up for dinner under the trees and lights of a patio restaurant. I appreciate that with most maxis it is easy to fold over the waistband a time or two and achieve a shorter rendition.

17. You, Pamela, look exquisite in any look.

18. Pamela, I only wear skirts because I have been convicted for me to do so for Christian modesty reasons. I wear only Midi & Maxi skirts without large slits!! They are also cool in the Summer!! In the Winter I had to learn from my daughter-in-love, who is from Maine, to wear leggings underneath so as not to freeze!!

19. I have only two summer skirts, a knee length
    ( just below the knee ,actually) denim that I wear with sandals, and a flouncy midi skirt that I wear with slight heel rather delicate sandals. I rarely wear it as its dressy while my current lifestyle is strictly casual. Really casual!
    Its a summer of Bermuda shorts and cropped or linen pants!

20. I have worn pants and shorts almost exclusively for so long (except for very formal events) that I am having a very hard time getting into the “swing” of skirts again. At 5’2″, anything past knee length is going to be the wrong length for me, some even dragging on the floor. Even petite styles really aren’t. So many skirts loose some border, detail or shape if they were shortened. I keep looking, though. Hoping to find a nice midi or tea length, I think that would be best for me. Fun discussion, though!

21. I find maxi length heavy and annoying to wear (bunching, holding up to climb steps, etc.). I have a “thing” against having to adjust or fuss with my clothes. A midi often looks dumpy on me unless it’s straight with a slit or hits just at the sweet spot of my narrowing calf, which is also where I like my cropped pants. I like a skirt just above my knees too. Although I have spots and some varicose veins, I’m an apple shape and my legs are thinner than the rest of me, and toned from all the walking I do. So I will wear a skort (mine also come from Costco), though I don’t feel super confident in them. I only own two actual skirts at the moment: a midi light denim with a slit in the front that I wear constantly, and an above-the-knee denim one from Talbots that buttons down the front. Both are worn frequently enough that I’m thinking I might add basic black and a twill in some olive color for fall, but then that means tights and a knee boot purchase, so I’m debating if cost per wear would justify all that. A commenter here turned me on to Elena Hue on YouTube, and she had a video on how the statement skirt is the most useful thing in your wardrobe. She made a compelling case, but I’m still not sure. I’m just wondering if I’m a pants and tops girl and that’s that. I’d love to see your take in a future post on how much you wear your basics vs your statement pieces.

22. Great topic, Pam. I love dresses skirts and used to wear them to work but find I don’t wear them except for church anymore. Its hard to find the simple styles I prefer especially in petite sizes. I still wear knee length. I am lucky to have good legs (runs in the family) so I’m comfortable in knee length and above the knee skorts. I’m barely 5’3″ now and most midi’s turn to maxi’s on me and its not a look I like so I need a petite length. I have been searching for a midi for summer. I won’t consider anything gathered or flounce and it needs to be in my autumn palette. Browse J Jill I found and ordered something using your link. It may not work out but if it does I’ll be pleased as it was marked way down.

23. Thanks, Natalie! I love your modesty convictions!

24. Temperature makes a difference for me regarding dress and short lengths. If it’s above 20 (70F) I’ll wear a dress that is just above my knees or I’ll wear Bermuda shorts. Now that I’m 70 I’m starting to feel covering my knees is better. Being comfortable and not too hot is important to me as I’m normally hot. When I play bridge everyone wears a sweater and I’m wearing a short sleeved top.

25. All of my dresses are either just below the knee or maxi length. Midi length is just not flattering on me. I also don’t wear voluminous-type skirts for the same reason. I’m 5’6″ and weigh 165 (gained a few pounds and can’t seem to lose them after I had my thyroid ablated) and I find that a slim fitting maxi makes me look so much thinner. I wish I could attach a photo of me wearing the dress, but I have the Morgann Maxi dress from Lilly Pulitzer in several different patterns (which I try to buy when they’re on sale) and they are amazingly flattering. I’m always asked if I’ve lost weight when I wear one of these dresses!

26. Pam, the Chicos bungee dress in nightshade purple is now sold out. I think I got the last one in 00. When I was placing my online order the computer screen first went ahead with the order, then told me it was sold out, then when I refreshed the page let me go ahead with the order. It was confused! I am glad I was able to get the purple version of the dress along with the Madeira red. The purple is a gorgeous periwinkle shade between blue and violet. I noticed right after I placed my order earlier this month that the purple nightshade color no longer appears on the website. Maybe Chicos will bring it back. I hope so!

27. I suspect looking great in a skirt involves a few factors – length, volume/silhouette, print vs solid. waistband type. I don’t own a single skirt. I haven’t found one I feel is flattering.

28. What a challenging post. I love analyzing the “why” of what I wear, what looks best, and how my body has changed in the last 10 years. Adapting is a must. I grew up sewing, and I have tried almost all styles and lengths over my life time. Wraps, gored, godets, dropped waists, circles, buttoned a-lines, jean skirts of differing styles, different sized pleats, maxis, minis,so many that you rarely hear about anymore. As I grew older, I stuck with a pencil skirt mid knee length for dressy events, and my favorite straight mid knee length for every day skirts for teaching and hot summers. I still get away with that in the winter with tights; my knees aren’t so pretty these days for showing in the summer. I have moved to that area hovering around mid knee to the midi which I define as in the calf area. My mirror tells me where it hits best and I hem it if too long. Beyond body shape is style personality. I see too many lovely dresses or skirts of varying shapes that are not for my straight body so I stick to what works for my ‘feel good’ zone. That is basically straight and simple. I cut back curved hems to straighten , wallop off long fabric on the high-low hems, and even let down ( yes, there was a real 3”hem) on a short inexpensive cotton (with pockets, no less) summer dress that I found at Kohl’s. I know that straight and more fitted is my best look, but summer day dresses that have more relaxation to them are my now favorites as long as they hang straight and soft. I am contemplating a midi slip skirt from Quince that should be year round. I can’t get a handle on the length from the pictures. I think I will just order one and try it. I want to be sure that it is truly cut in the bias. Does anyone here have a Quince slip skirt? Although I rarely go sleeveless, I have a collection of lightweight deep autumn colored wraps/3rd pieces that I fashion over my lighter dresses and I push up the sleeves. Thinking ahead for winter, I need to replace my tall dressy brown boots to wear with my midis. Pam, that Chico’s white button skirt looks perfect on you. I have strong opinion regarding slits, but I have gone on long enough. Maxis are not my friend. I was recently in London and they were everywhere. I am game to try anything on in a store, but I never follow trends that do me no favors. Thank you for this discussion! You showed us a great assortment.

29. Good advice to many that sometimes going into petite sizing might help on length, Char. I appreciate you adding your experience.

30. I thought that was such a cute skirt to put at the beginning of the slideshow, Connie. I like that you associate maxi skirts with vacay!

31. Awww, Linlee, you are so sweet.

32. Yes it is…I have already worn my linen pieces often! Thanks Paulette.

33. Thanks Sharon…I feel really out on skirts…except for the two I currently own. But I do wear them!

34. A statement skirt? interesting…I will look for the video. Thanks Linda.

35. In July, we should begin to see more available in your autumn palette, Kathie. I will keep my eyes open.

36. That would be me as well, Judy.

37. That’s a good dress…I love it when I find pieces like that, Niki.

38. I do remember that shade. I typically look for eggplant purples. Thanks Kathy.

39. I understand Lily…I rarely put one on that I feel confident wearing.

40. Hi Deborah, if you try the slip skirt, let us know what you think. They look so pretty and I have contemplated one, but never ordered. Thanks for beginning to share why you observed about women in London.

41. Back in my high heel wearing days, I wore a lot of skirts & dresses. My preferred length for a skirt is to the knee or slightly below the knee. Since my legs are very short, anything longer makes me look & feel dumpy. I wear skorts in the summer because they are A-line shaped which has always the best shape for me, & I feel confident wearing them with sneakers. Because of my arthritic feet, my shoe choices don’t include ballet slippers or some types of flats, & I have a hard time image wise adjusting to wearing most skirts with sneakers or loafers. Since my life is mostly casual, I have toyed with the idea of wearing a fuller skirt, like the blue striped skirt from Boden that was in the slide show, with sneakers but haven’t gotten up the nerve to try it yet. Maxi skirts are a definite no because they make me feel as if I am in a costume, & as someone else noted, I envision getting tangled up in all that fabric which would be a recipe for disaster.

42. At 5’1 1/2” tall and 143 lbs., skirts seem to always throw off proportion as I’m busty, loosing my waistline but slim from there down. It has been very hot even on our 9:00am dog walks. I live in knit shorts and tees or gauze tops like today. I love my emove shoes in white from Easy Spirit. Our lives are very casual and I don’t own a skirt. I’m a shorts, skimmers or full length linen pants woman. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing taller women wearing skirts all lengths. Pamela, you are tall and can wear skirts very well.

43. How fascinating – I actually feel older (than I am) in a midi length skirt! Maybe because it’s neither here nor there, whereas my petite height usually needs something more decisive to look ‘with it’. I will usually do at/ just below the knees OR at/ just below the ankles. Yes, retailers cannot seem to agree on what they call this exact length (I’ve even seen it called a ‘midaxi’ length!) I suspect it saves them money to just make one inseam of ‘midaxi’ skirt compared to the traditionally floor-skimming ‘maxi’ length. But I still remember when a few inches above the ankles used to be called a tea length dress/ skirt!

44. I am a petite and size 2. I wear my skirts just above my knees. My dresses vary, but mostly just below my knees. I am in my 80’s and finding age related clothes a challenge. I really enjoy wearing skirts and dresses..

45. I think that is one of my fears as well!

46. Thanks Sydney. Currently I am only wearing one!

47. I just saw that a 71-year-old woman from El Paso competed in the Miss Texas USA pageant. Next year that could be you!!!

48. I remember that too! I love the descriptions length!

49. Thanks for sharing Audrey!

50. I don’t think so…but again, you are very sweet!

51. Love the Bungee cord dress I have 4 of them and when I go into work tomorrow if they still have the new one in size 0 I’m getting it. I get many compliments when I wear it, it’s also cool especially when you live in hot climates. I’m in Tucson. Any more I’m not a bug fan of my knees showing. I’m only 5’1” but it’s the age.

52. Namely due to the climate I live in (Canada – four distinct seasons) wear skirts more than dresses as find them more versatile in extending a wardrobe and when I can will opt for a co-ordinated top so when worn together can give the illusion of a dress. On that note; throughout the course of my life have worn various lengths ranging from mini to formal BUT have always avoided voluminous cuts, box pleats and wrap styles. Now fast forward and current; I lean towards midi and maxi length with simplicity in cut that allows several options in footwear from sandals, shoes to boots, flats, wedge to heels. Also I find said lengths surprisingly also accommodate short versions of outer wear (or an overlay) without the concern of conflicting hemlines which IMO is also a plus regardless of the season or if the dress code is casual or elevated. -Brenda-

53. I think the navy bungee dress is my favorite so far, but I have enjoyed wearing the three I own! Thanks Linda

54. I agree with you Brenda that skirts give us more wardrobe mileage over dresses. That is a reason I should try on a few more skirts. Thanks!

55. Late to the party, but I love wearing skirts and dresses year-round so this conversation was of great interest to me. I wear pencil skirts or sheath dresses at the bottom of my knee with pantyhose or tights, and midi length skirts and dresses with my western boots year-round, with sandals in the summer and sometimes with tights and knee-high boots for winter. I have bad varicose veins, cellulite and scars that make me feel ugly if my uncovered legs are showing, but that is a personal choice. I would never criticize anyone else for wearing the length that feels best to them, and this group obviously runs the gamut, from above the knee skorts to maxis. I may have to try a skort one of these days, which could be a good option for running errands this time of year! Thanks to this community for so many good ideas!

56. Glad you could join in, Lorri!

57. Just now getting here….great discussion. I only have dresses at or a bit below knee length. I feel like I’m wearing an adult’s clothes in midi…very dumpy feeling. I would wear maxi if an occasion called for it….dressy, but that is a lot of fabric. I tried the bungy dress but it was too long and voluminous…..I felt like I was wearing the gown you wear somewhere where you have to remove your clothes. There are lots of shorts and skorts in every length on Amazon. I have several because 13″ shorts and 19″ skorts are not available anywhere else that I know of.

58. Thanks Mary Frances!

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