Age, Style & Hemlines

[JeffB1959]

As a full blown fashion freestyler, near obsessed with how I present myself in public, I’ve developed a serious taste of late for skirts and dresses with mid-shin hemlines. Perhaps it’s my mindset as someone in my mid-sixties, but, I’ve come to appreciate long hemlines as classy and stylish, befitting a man of my advanced years. And, as part of that aforementioned mindset, when I’ve gone shopping, I’ve looked for dresses (which I’m all but wearing exclusively on my outings these days) that are at least knee length, if not longer.

Don’t get me wrong, I can still very much rock a miniskirt, and I definitely have the legs to pull it off, but, I feel more comfortable, more at ease with myself in longer styles, I firmly believe midiskirts exemplify who I am, and the style I choose to display to the public. Again, it’s all about being classy and looking my very best while out and about, perhaps some might say my current style is dull and/or dowdy, that’s perfectly fine, I don’t mind that at all, I know what I like, and this suits me greatly. I find it great fun how long skirts swish and swirl about my legs as I walk, how they go well with either flat shoes or high heels, there’s a certain level of elegance that comes with what I wear, and I certainly enjoy looking, and feeling elegant.

Now, does this mean I’ll never wear miniskirts/minidresses again? To be perfectly honest, I don’t know. I still like showing off my legs from time to time, but, as a person of a certain age, I prefer the truly classy look that comes from wearing longer hemlines. Is age conducive to what hem length a skirt wearer should and can wear? That's up to the person and his own personal tastes. What do you think?

[rivegauche]

[url][url][/url][/url]I think you should wear what makes YOU feel good. Also good to see someone else on this site who aspires to elegance. I take the elegance thing so seriously I got a colour and style consultation for both gender presentations - probably the best money I ever spent on clothes even though I just bought advice. I was advised to wear short (21") or long (>34") and I usually stick to this. Like you I prefer dresses over skirts. I love the feel of a skirt around my legs but I occasionally get a row from women for not showing off my legs (also mid sixties). A long voluminous dress with bare legs is fun to wear on a breezy day in a way that a short one would not. I also quite like what I call "skirt management" whether I am presenting as a man or a woman (I do both). My style consultation steered me towards classic styles in plain colours so I have few dresses with big florals - many are one colour in cotton or linen. You are a man in address - you already rise above what others think - stick with YOUR preferred length and enjoy your outfits.

[denimini]

Don’t get me wrong, I can still very much rock a miniskirt, and I definitely have the legs to pull it off,

Yes you certainly look good in mini skirts

I prefer the truly classy look that comes from wearing longer hemlines.

....... and you always look classy, something I never attempt but happy with casual and workwear look.

Is age conducive to what hem length a skirt wearer should and can wear? That's up to the person and his own personal tastes. What do you think?

I have never considered the connection of age and style, as we are breaking fashion rules by wearing skirts so I feel quite immune from other conventions. I am in my 70's and feel psychologically comfortable wearing 11" to 14" mini skirts, OK with 15" to 16" and not confident with anything longer.

That's up to the person and his own personal tastes. What do you think?

Yes just up to personal tastes.

[JeffB1959]

rivergauche: I'll admit I had little interest in elegance in the beginning, but I embraced it because of my passion, if not obsession for looking my best while in public. There are probably still people out there who think that a man in a dress looks silly, so, by looking classy and stylish, I hope to dispel that myth. Also, back in the day, I only liked solid colors, now, I just LOVE prints, especially floral prints for my dresses, they suit my style and personal taste.

denimini: Thanks much for the kind words. I hope this thread gives everyone pause to reflect on their own sense of style.

[new2skirts]

I think it is down to preference but generally as you get older, your hemline usually lowers... I still prefer a knee length pencil style in formal skirts, or 27 inch calf length for the colder months with boots and tights, I might wear a skater style that is above the knee with stockings in summer but it's all down to choice. Denim ones are generally knee length too, I like what you and Skirtyscot wear, which is a useful guide for me in workwear.

I guess when you're younger you want to show off more leg or be more daring, but nowadays I feel quite comfortable looking perhaps more frumpy and middle aged for 58...

[Kirbstone]

No need to look further, Jeff. That floral pink roses over grey number has it in Spades. Everything else looks frumpy in comparison.

Tom

[Grok]

Yes, longer skirts can indeed be elegant. You can get this effect even if you aren't trying to look formal. It just now occurred to me that with longer skirts we can see a convergence of elegance and style.

BTW, I also like the swish and swirl along the entire length of my legs.

[Mouse]

I have broken so many dressing rules, wearing skirts that are too short for my age, seems a bit of a lost cause.....

[Ozdelights]

It always has to be personal taste and comfort. Style is very important but not always based on hemline. You look great in those.

[Skirt18220]

Agreed. Style is personal. I like short skirts, won't be going long. I wear skirts for the cooling effect. The shorter the better. Ha, even my kilts are short.

[r1g0r]

FWIW:

I've always preferred maxi length.
Even in the beginning of my skirt wearing, almost all my favorites were ankle length.
The swing/swish/swirl of open fabric at my ankles has always added to the enjoyment of a hem.
I'll wear something shorter, but love that formal length!

[Mouse]

I have run into a bit of a problem...... The big long white skirt and petticoat combo I wore last weekend around London and to the meet-up. I can't stop wearing it. I am in love with having my legs surrounded my yards and yards of material. I know it is a right pain moving about, sweeping things off low shelves, but I haven't had this much fun from an outfit, working from home, for some time.

Not sure what the cure is for this problem. I have an idea to make a long skirt from some spare orange latex to go over the long petticoat, or may be make a long skirt from the Star Wars material I bought last year. I defiantly think the next major style over winter for Mouse is long skirts.

So my hemlines are going down, my age is rising and my style is on going.

[DrFishnets]

I have run into a bit of a problem...... The big long white skirt and petticoat combo I wore last weekend around London and to the meet-up. I can't stop wearing it. I am in love with having my legs surrounded my yards and yards of material. I know it is a right pain moving about, sweeping things off low shelves, but I haven't had this much fun from an outfit, working from home, for some time.

I know what you mean. I’ve recently got into buying long skirts because I love them and I like the way they look on me and the way they flow. They especially look good paired with Doc Marten boots and a leather jacket. I usually wear 60 denier black tights underneath or if I’m adventurous it’s black fishnets.

[Faldaguy]

I have run into a bit of a problem...... The big long white skirt and petticoat combo I wore last weekend around London and to the meet-up. I can't stop wearing it. I am in love with having my legs surrounded my yards and yards of material. I know it is a right pain moving about, sweeping things off low shelves, but I haven't had this much fun from an outfit, working from home, for some time.

Not sure what the cure is for this problem. I have an idea to make a long skirt from some spare orange latex to go over the long petticoat, or may be make a long skirt from the Star Wars material I bought last year. I defiantly think the next major style over winter for Mouse is long skirts.

So my hemlines are going down, my age is rising and my style is on going.

I've never felt my age had any bearing on my skirt length; or style. My choices derive from comfort (physical factors first) and then simply what appeals -- and that is a challenge because too much 'appeals'; made worse by a closet with everything from plain fabrics in lengths from skimpy to toes as well as plenty of color, patterns, fabrics, and styles from barely enough to tripping hazard long. Though I try, more so over the years, to create "an outfit" that is visually integrated and pleasing, my years of growing up and being in the man box deprived me of the skills to execute style with ease. My wife can pull a top and skirt from different parts of the room without a moments hesitation about the colors blending well -- whereas I have to stand around with the skirt and try holding a dozen items next to it to come up with an "outfit". Fortunately, I can usually get her opinion -- "is this better, or this", but style still eludes me.

That said, I have found myself wearing more long skirts these past few years -- perhaps a simple reflection of living on a mountain top where the temperatures tend to be a bit cooler. My shorter skirts do come out when we head down the mountain or off to the playa, but the long skirts seem to offer more adventure in style, design, fabric and feel; as well as precluding unwanted exposure with ease that I probably select them more often.

Mouse, I'd suggest you can get the swish and coverage sensations without a ton of petticoats. I pretty much always wear half slips, so the dermatological sensations come with the choice of slip, the skirt only being more of an expression of movement and activity.

[Mouse]

Mouse, I'd suggest you can get the swish and coverage sensations without a ton of petticoats. I pretty much always wear half slips, so the dermatological sensations come with the choice of slip, the skirt only being more of an expression of movement and activity.

Thanks Faldaguy, I do not have any slips, I wanted the 50's look of wide skirts and petticoats gave me that look, so I now have four. The first two were knee length and work well under my longer latex skirts. Then I have a shorter one which wakes with my two shorter latex skirts. Then I have the latest l white long petticoat which worked so well in London.

I will have to look into slips as the midi denim skirt I made without a lining, has a tendency to drag on my legs as I walk, depending on hosiery. A slip, I think could be the answer.

I reject totally age related dogma as to what someone can wear. Oddly women seem to have an age box which descends over them if they are not careful. You know the one where they have to have shorted hair and skirts have to be below the knee. Of course you get some wonderful women who have long hair and short skirts well into old age. So, society tries to control both men and women in different ways as to how they appear.