Skirt length - my experience

[crfriend]

Pleated floor sweeper, hmmm, where from, I would like something like that!

I got it from Long Tall Sally a few years ago. It's been long-since discontinued. There's a shot of me in it on my "Pics and Looks" thread someplace around page 12 I think.

I had to add some extra elastic tension in the waistband as I don't really have the curves to keep it up, but once that ECO was done it's a very nice skirt -- and very striking to observe, especially if I'm in motion at the time.

[jeanfor]

The reason that I like knee length to mid calf is that you get to feel the skirt and I think it is a nice feeling. In that range the skirt is manageable and you are unlikely to flash especially if you go commando. With a nice top either relaxed or with a jacket, you will look awesome, not the case for short skirts

[skirted_in_SF]

Pleated floor sweeper, hmmm, where from, I would like something like that!

Depending on how tall you are and where you wear the waistband, these can be floor sweepers:
http://wintersilks.blair.com/p/women/dr ... 3/9006.uts

I have a couple I bought several years ago and wear them all the time at home. But they are very light and floaty as I found out the one time I wore one out on a atypically warm but typically breezy San Francisco afternoon. Mine are darker colors, all they seem to have now are lights.
I don't know what their shipping policy might be to the UK.

[Big and Bashful]

Looks good, I am tempted, I wonder what length they are, I find a 40" skirt is around ankle length on me.

[skirted_in_SF]

Looks good, I am tempted, I wonder what length they are, I find a 40" skirt is around ankle length on me.

The regular sizes are 36". (on the details tab a couple of inches below the main picture. I'm not sure why some sites hide important information.)
Since it has an elastic waist, where the bottom hem ends up depends on where you place the waistband. I tend to wear it just below my navel, and end up with the bottom hem at the top of my ankles. That keeps it mostly out of the way when standing after sitting down and only requires a modest lift of the front when mounting stairs. On cooler evenings at home, I wear a 30" A-line half slip under. The downside of that is you lose the swirl of the skirt around your legs.

[Sinned]

I suppose that I prefer skirts that are knee length or above the knee or very long - ankle length. I don't seem to like calf length whether they would look good on me or not. I did have a calf length black skirt and I shortened it.

[Darryl]

I think I'll stick with Knee-length or just above the knee using the kilt model, more or less. I think I'd go for something equivalent of a 6-9" inseam in shorts or 3-4" above the knee...

The SA at Lane Bryant said they didn't have half-slips, so I got some panties for those times when I wear knee-highs or might consider going bare-legged...though I no longer have socks in the drawer.

I doubt I'd wear without tights or panties (not boxers or briefs as like the socks, I've not resupplied either of those since early 2007).

My current skirt is 24" but it was about all I could find, and it appears I could easily raise the hem-line or have it raised. It even has a wide enough 'waist-band' I think I could add some belt-loops at need.

[Jim]

Most of the time, especially in warmer weather, I prefer a skirt that stays above the knees. But my problem is my short legs, about 16" from waist to knees, so a 14" skirt is the longest that feels good. I'd like to get a utility kilt, as a "woman's" garment would be frowned on at my work, but what I've seen advertised are all 22" or so, about mid-calf for me.

[pelmut]

I have a couple of maxis that are floor-sweepers,

The floor of the Crystal Palace in London was designed with gaps between the boards so that women's skirts would sweep the dust and rubbish through into the basement and save the cost of having to employ an army of cleaners.

[Big and Bashful]

I have a couple of maxis that are floor-sweepers,

The floor of the Crystal Palace in London was designed with gaps between the boards so that women's skirts would sweep the dust and rubbish through into the basement and save the cost of having to employ an army of cleaners.

A clandestine way to make sure the women do the sweeping up!

[GerdG]

Most of the time, especially in warmer weather, I prefer a skirt that stays above the knees. But my problem is my short legs, about 16" from waist to knees, so a 14" skirt is the longest that feels good. I'd like to get a utility kilt, as a "woman's" garment would be frowned on at my work, but what I've seen advertised are all 22" or so, about mid-calf for me.

Jim, Scottish Kiltshop offers customized kilts in lengths from 16 to 25 inch and waist sizes from 25 to 62 inch.

http://scottishkiltshop.com/en/50-cargo ... e-men.html
More models, also tartan kilts.

[Darryl]

I read somewhere that if you can hang your arms to your sides and your fingertips touch the skin of your legs, the skirt is too short. Also that a mini would likely be 12" long (in gym short territory) and a micro-mini would likely be about 10.5" long (or in running shorts territory). Not sure how accurate that source was, but I don't particularly like my floor-length skirt, though it could grow on me, the same source recommended learning a 'kick-step' to sort of kick the fabric out of the way before taking a step, and I found out that I need to gather it up a bit in my hands when ascending stairs.

My 24' skirts could be 2 to 3" shorter in my opinion, but I will reserve judgment since sitting in the car and at restaurants means they ride up to about miniskirt level. Don't think it will be an issue since I'll most likely have support hose on, or at the very least some type of underwear.

Once I can get a mini and micro-mini I'll test them in the house before going out and about.

That will be the casual, everyday look.

For more serious occasions I hope to get a decent, budget 5' and later an 8' kilt, add the bits and pieces to have an Argyll, Tweed, and if I do take up the pipes I'll try to build a Prince Charlie outfit for those occasions. I'd probably size the kilts to be "juuuuuust" a wee bit above the kneecaps. Not enough to be obvious, but enough to create an itch in the knowledgeable observer's mind that something isn't quite kosher.

[andrew72]

Knee length is absolutely the shortest I'll wear.

I prefer at least mid-calf length, and have several lower calf, ankle, and even floor length.

The longer the better - the fuller the better!

For sure, it all comes down to personal preference. For me, it is 'the longer the better'. My skirts are ankle length (38 inches) to floor length (42 inches).

[dillon]

I like top-of-the-kneecap skirts. They are long enogh for modesty but not long enogh to inhibit my stride.

[Taj]

Mr. Pragmatic here, I suppose. Kilt length for me (top of knee cap) is my preference as it is comfortable in most regards. I have shortened a couple to 17" and 19" for hiking or fishing. Higher hems are less restrictive to walking and climbing. Our mountain trails can be steep and rocky. Cloth dragging across my knees is an annoyance. Also, a shorter hem stays drier wading creeks while fly fishing. I don't use waders, just river sandals.