FashBlog.com

Ya’ gotta love the skirt. It really fits in everywhere, and has seen more reinventions than probably any item of ladies’ clothing. Skirts can be girly or all business, and worn by any age. It can reach from way up high to the ankles, be made out of just about any material and take any shape.

Personally, I have always loved skirts. In 6th grade, I discovered that skirts were super-easy to make, and proceeded to make a bunch…albeit styles with elastic waists instead of the hard-to-install zippers. Eventually, I followed patterns with several form-fitting seams, and was able to adequately create slits, but never quite graduated to putting flounces on the bottom or doing jagged hemlines.

What kind of skirt is your favorite? My favorite has been in my wardrobe for some time, and if every woman owned one, I think they’d all agree with me that it would be an invaluable part of her life. It’s long, black, straight, made of light-weight wool, and has served as foundation for many a dressy occasion as well as funeral. (It came with long sleeve royal blue top of the same weight of wool, with a cut out neckline edged with decorative black trim in a tunic style, which doesn’t get as much use.)

Anyway, this skirt has a slit that, when worn, long, goes up past the knee, but if the skirt’s waistband is rolled, the slit reaches the hip. It doesn’t’ take brain surgery to figure out that having a slit up to your underwear is not usually in the best taste, so I’ve learned how to pin along the finished pieces so that it’s not noticeably altered. And, as far as rolling it up, that’s one of the true beauties of this skirt: it has no zipper or buttons, just a wide waistband that sits comfortably on my hips, or can be easily rolled, making the skirt as short as I’d like. (Obviously doing so requires that I wear a longer top over the roll, and a wide belt to camouflage any bump.) On one occasion, I even pulled the waistband up under my arms and wore the skirt as a tube-top dress, bringing the hem to my knees and topping it off with a glitzy jacket and fancy shoes for a Christmas party. This may sound rather bizarre, but trust me-I wouldn’t wear it (in any way) if it looked bizarre. Over the course of years, this one item has gotten so much wear it’s more than worth its cost. It was a bit more expensive that I wanted to pay, but this was a case of getting more than I expected, which goes to show that sometimes a higher price truly does reflect quality in workmanship and design.

Some experts believe that full-fashioned women should opt for skirts that are basically A-line, but with a lot of material that can swirl down around the knees. This style conceals fuller hips and thighs. If it’s worn with a nipped top or jacket, the appearance is one of a thinner silhouette, since the waist becomes accented while the lower torso is camouflaged. Meanwhile, a well-tailored one that is tighter at the bottom-such as a pencil skirt-can make even a slim woman appear taller, and many agree that around the perfect length is at the knees or a few inches above.

Some skirts boast fringed hems or asymmetrical finishes, but care should be taken with these so the tops do not compete with the attention that will be given to the skirt itself. Plain colors, designs, and materials are the best choices.

There is a reason that women have worn skirts around the globe for centuries. Skirts are basically more comfortable than pants because there is less chance of an uncomfortable fit; as long as the waistband isn’t pinching. Usually, a woman doesn’t have to worry about a skirt dragging on the floor, what size heels to wear with it-or a front zipper coming down. It may take a little thought when it comes to bending down or getting out of a car gracefully, but a skirt can be versatile, flattering-and above all, feminine.