Clothing Style – Pants and Skirt Length
By mati. Filed in Create Your Own Clothing Style, Fashion |Tags: Clothing Style, Create Your Own Clothing Style
Almost nobody has a perfect body, but that’s ok. Instead of trying to be something we can’t be, we have to learn to work with what we have been given. It is all about creating balance visually, by using the right kind of clothes in the right colors.
I recently read a book that I found very helpful called “Staging Your Comeback” by Christopher Hopkins. He is focusing on how women over 45 can create their own clothing style. Although, I don’t agree with his makeup philosophy, he had some very good ideas about clothing style.
One of the most eye opening things I found out about myself was that my legs were actually 4″ longer than my torso!!! I knew they were long, but I didn’t have a clue they were that long. So, if you want to know what clothes to wear, this is the first thing you have to know.
Measure with a stiff tape measure from the floor up to exactly where the leg enters the hip joint. Then subtract this measurement from your total heigth. The most balanced proportions are when torso and leg length are the same. If that is the case, you look best in long pants with a mid rise – not too high, not too low.
If your legs are longer than your torso, you can wear low rise pants, cropped pants and capris, and of course long pants. Stay away from pinstripes, which tends to create a lengthening effect.
If you have shorter legs than torso, you need pants that come all the way to your waist. Stay away from cropped and capris. Pinstripes are your friend.
When it comes to skirt lengths, you first have to decide what kinds of shoes you are willing to wear. If you love comfortable flats, long skirts or mid leg length is more flattering. If you are willing to wear heels, you can get away with above or below the knee, but don’t even think about wearing flats with a knee length skirt. Flats with knee length are frumpy!
The problem with knee length skirts is that they cut your legs in half. This makes your legs look shorter, so you have to balance the visual shortening with high heels. If you wear long skirts, your legs look fine as they are, so flats are not a problem.
When it comes to mini skirts, you really shouldn’t wear them, unless you are under 30 (or maybe 40…) But, if you do love them, and you have the legs to carry them off, there are two ways to wear them. If you wear your mini with bare legs, the skirt visually shortens your legs, so you need to wear high heels to balance the shortening effect. If you wear your mini with opaque tights in the same color as the skirt, preferably black, you can get away with wearing black, flat boots, since wearing all the same color visually lengthens the legs.
My main priority, when picking a skirt length, has to do with the comfort of my feet, so personally, I prefer to stay with long skirts and flats. Remember, long skirts create long slim lines, and the best thing is, you can wear them with shoes that don’t ruin your feet or damage your back, and it still looks good. A long skirt or long pants with flats is the only style that doesn’t compromise your style, or your comfort. That’s why I love it.
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