FashBlog.com

I have never had much luck wearing skirts. I'm not sure why that is- it is simply rare for me to find a skirt that fits me well and looks flattering, while matching my clothing and looking appropriate for day-to-day wear. For some reason, most skirts look great on the hanger but develop a weird boxiness when I put them on: they are rounded over the bottom, bunchy at the hips, and hang straight down so that it sort of looks like my legs are suspended from inside a cardboard tube.

Maybe it's my figure, or maybe it's just that I am terrible at picking out skirts. Either way, I've learned through process of elimination that there are a few key things to look for when picking out a skirt. By following these basic rules of thumb, I've saved money by not buying skirts that don't work- and I've probably saved literally hours in the dressing room by not trying on ones that would have been all wrong. With these rules, I can pull a skirt off the rack, glance it over, and decide instantly whether or not it's the right shape.

Of course, trying things on is always a good idea, and sometimes something that looks like it will work winds up not being right- so I still advocate going into the dressing room. But these rules help make it less of a blind gamble to do so.

1. A-line holds the answers. It's not just the most modern shape on the market today; A-line skirts are also the most universally flattering, and an A-line cut will instantly make almost any skirt worth a trial run.

If you're not sure what the term means, A-line skirts are shaped like the capital letter A- they flare out from the waist. Some skirts flare more than others; on some A-lines, the cut is so subtle that you almost can't tell by looking at it, but it makes a big difference once it's on. Check for a subtle bell shape to determine if a skirt has an A-line cut.

A-line skirts, while being awfully close to foolproof, aren't perfect. There are a few things to watch out for when choosing one. Firstly, make sure the skirt fits you properly at the waist. An A-line skirt that hangs loose around the waist will make you look sloppy, and one that is too tight will cause the narrowest part of the skirt to hug you around the hips in an unflattering way.
Also, if you're extremely short or petite, steer clear of an A-line skirt that has an extreme shape or a very exaggerated flare. A large bell shape will overwhelm your figure and make your legs look out of proportion. Keep the A-line shape in accordance with the size of your body.


2. The waistline is important. The second rule of buying skirts is to pay attention to what kind of waistline the skirt has. Depending on your body type and what kind of fit you're looking for, the waist can make or break the fit of a skirt.

nearly everyone, even the extremely thin, should steer clear of elasticized waistbands. These cause the fabric to bunch more than it typically would and can sometimes make your bottom and hips look larger than they are.

On a corduroy or denim skirt, a zipper and fly closure is fine, but look carefully at how the skirt is constructed. Plenty of corduroy and denim skirts are made with too much fabric surrounding the zipper, and this causes it to poof out when you sit down. Look for fabric that is sewn in panels or drawn fairly tightly on both sides of the skirt's fly. These details will let the skirt conform more naturally to your body during movement.


3. Keep an eye on the length. Probably the single most important factor when it comes to choosing a skirt is how long the skirt falls on your body. A single skirt will, of course, fit three different women in three very different ways, and shorter women are naturally going to have to choose shorter skirts in proportion to their bodies. Even if a skirt fits you at the waist, if you're shorter than average then you'll have to remember that it is hanging lower on you than it was designed to, and it might look sloppy. Consider hemming your skirts if you are on the short side.

A skirt that falls just above or just below the knees looks fresh and flattering on almost any figure. Unless you're really into the peasant look, steer clear of floor-length skirts; even if you are wearing a peasant skirt, make sure it doesn't drag on the ground- it should show part of your shoes when hanging naturally without looking high water or awkward. It takes a fairly tall person to wear a floor or ankle-length skirt; short women can often look overwhelmed by them, particularly if the skirt is heavily printed.

One more length of skirt to avoid is the mid-calf. This rarely works on anyone because of the fact that cutting off the line of your leg right in the fullest part of the calf makes your legs look wider and shorter than they really are.


4. Choose pattern, color and material wisely. Just like any other item of clothing, skirts come in formal and casual styles. Whether a skirt is designed for going out to dinner, wearing to the office or going to the grocery store depends largely on its pattern and material. A solid colored skirt in a simple cotton can go almost anywhere, while rayons and silks are designed for formal occasions. A canvas, corduroy or denim skirt is best for the weekend.

If you're small in size, avoid all-over patterns in big designs. A very small floral print or a subtly-colored plaid will be just fine, but anything larger will be too overwhelming, even on a small skirt. Conversely, if you're plus sized you can get away with bolder stripes and patterns, but avoid a very small repeating pattern, since it will make you look larger than you really are.

Remember that a solid-colored skirt is one of the most versatile pieces you can have in your wardrobe. Nowadays, pairing two bold colors from the same family together gives you a fresh modern look, so don't be afraid to experiment a little. Try a violet skirt with a pale green shirt, or a bright red skirt with a yellow top.


Once you figure out what cut and style of skirt works best for you, you'll learn to recognize it in the store and your shopping trips will become much easier. Just keep in mind that the details listed above are important, and learn to check for them instinctively whenever you pull a skirt off the rack. Skirts are a wonderful addition to any woman's wardrobe- as long as they're chosen wisely.
-by bjp