The Midi Skirt – So Right Now
Have you noticed that skirt lengths are slowly shifting? Over the last few seasons, there’s been a gradual increase in the number of longer, ladylike hemlines. A midi skirt is a great solution for gals wanting more leg coverage, or for anyone looking for a modern change. It’s a trend worth exploring.
There seem to be two versions: 1) soft and ladylike with a fuller over-the-knee or midi skirt length and 2) slinky and seductive in a slim, pencil-style midi. Which version are you? Here’s a look at the two.
Be a Lady Who Lunches
Voluminous over-the-knee and tea-length skirts have a very feminine, country club feel. One way to play this up is to wear a skirt like this with a ladylike bow tie blouse in a floral print. Tucking in your blouse and adding a belt at your waist will enhance an hourglass silhouette and highlight the fit ‘n’ flare detail of the skirt.
Try a Slim, Sexy Silhouette
If a full midi skirt makes you feel like a Stepford wife, try one of the slim, pencil-style ones instead. They are subtly sexy and can go from office to date night with ease!
A Little Edginess is Modern
Another way to look modern in midi and not 1950s is to choose a midi dress with an edge. Go for a color-blocked skirt, a cool asymmetrical hem skirt, or a sexy leather midi skirt.
Whether You Choose ladylike or sexy remember:
Heels are non-negotiable with a midi. This doesn’t mean you need to bust out the stilettos, but a shoe with a bit of lift will stop you from looking frumpy.
Will you be wearing the midi? Or do you think long skirts make women look old after a certain age? I’d like to know.
Thank you for posting all these midi skirt options! I am so excited there are so many styles available. I have a pink pleated midi skirt and just got two pencil midi skirts. They are modern and feel fresh when everything else is to the knee or above.
Is it okay to wear black tights with a significant bone open-toe bootie and a long slim midi? What about with any shoe color besides black? Thanks for your help.
Hi Novell, There’s no right or wrong, but here is my take. I think black tights with colored shoes are funky and don’t work. Some gals ack open-toe booties with black stockings. This is acc p ab e so long as there is no toe seam. I don’t care f r his look, either. I prefer ack tights with shoes, open-toe booties with no socks, and your toes showing. I find these last two ways m st s phi ticated. Cheers, Debor h
Because of my spider veins, I have been wearing these longer-length skirts and dresses with tights/colored hose for several years now, so I guess I’ve been ahead of the curve! I love the first look. I think the slim-skirted face only looks good on taller, thinner people (not me), but that is my opinion.
This is one trend I am sorry to see a return. I am petite and absolutely cannot pull off the midi-pencil skirt look. Unless you have a slim, sleek figure, it is not flattering to most women of any age or height. I like the fuller tea-length skirts but paired with the wrong tops/jackets/shoes; they look very frumpy. I believe it would be beneficial to show these types of styles actually on real women, with actual figures, instead of showing pieces that would work together. Incorporating the various body types may help to avoid fashion disasters.
I agree; I would love to see these styles on “real women,” not 20-year-old models. I, too, am petite, so I understand. I know the Petite departments scale down these clothing items for a better fit, but I always feel like a mushroom enveloped in a full skirt.
Do full skirts work for 5’3″ size 10 or 12 women?
I love these midi skirts but do not wear them. Because I am only 5 feet tall, I try to keep my dresses just above my knee or knee length at the maximum.
Hi Deborah and Glam Gals!
The midi skirts are great. I have three midi pencil skirts in black, winter white, and tobacco brown. They are so versatile! I wear them with blouses, sweaters, and blazers, and yes, they should be worn with either boots or shoes with at least a 2 1/2-3″ heel. I work in an office setting and need to look crisp and professional, and these skirts do the trick!
The quickest way for me to look squatty and frumpy is to wear a mid-calf skirt. I wear dresses at slightly below the knee or to the floor.
I could buy into a tea-length retro look with a regular pump (ala Grace Kelly), but not the slim skirt at mid-calf. It visually cuts your legs, and those clunky wedge ankle boots complete a squared-off “Lego” silhouette. Not exactly ‘edge’ for the 5’4″ crowd. If I want the edge, I will grab my leather moto jacket out the door.