Knee length length

[TonautBrom]

I’m still a very tentative skirt wearer, with just the one to my name - the classic knee length denim beginner’s model. I’d like to push the boat a little further now and fancy something in black - maybe cotton, maybe corduroy - but still knee length and so kilt-like.

I’m have difficulty finding something suitable though. Most skirts on sale are much shorter or much longer, and the one possible I found recently was 64cm when I really don’t want to go longer than 60cm (I’m not very tall).

Any suggestions?

[STEVIE]

Hi TB,
Simples, buy longer and shorten as required.
Moneywise, check the charity shops and do the alteration yourself, a friend or an alteration shop would be the most economic.
Next step up, a regular retailer and same MO.
Then, there are the bespoke services at the top end, sky's the limit.
The crucial factor is your comfort, physical and psychological, without that nothing works.
I'd strongly suggest option 1, failed experiments are a pain in the ass, expensive ones, doubly so.
Hope this helps.
Steve

[Seb]

If you have access to a sewing machine a rectangle skirt (either gathered or pleased) with an elastic waist is both fast and easy to do if you find some cheap cotton fabric(like an old bedsheet).

I also think second hand is a great place to start looking, cheap so when you do pick up things that don't fit like you want or look the right way its no big loss to donate them back.

[Barleymower]

I think ebay and vinted are my goto. On ebay you can pick up a skirt for 99p plus postage. At that price you can afford to make a mistake. If it's no good you can bin it or keep the material for a sewing project. You can also use eBay for sizing. For example I know I Seasalt size 14 will fit everytime, monsoon is also generous sizing and Toast. Coast, M&S, next etc will be tight at size 14.
For me if in doubt get a 16 and nake a simple tuck with a little hand sewing if it's too big.
The only fabric you can stretch is silk. It's as tough as leather. Cotton will dye but will also fall apart a year later. You can't dye polyester. Silk again dyes easily and won't rot like cotton.
I've tried stretching cotton but it can't take too much before the fibres break.
Vinted is as good as eBay but you have to act quick or it's gone.

Just my musings, I expect others have had more success than me.

[Faldaguy]

One more 'yea' for thrift shops -- & they usually have dressings rooms to try on the garment -- can't beat that.

[TonautBrom]

Thanks all, unfortunately making/altering at home isn’t an option for me. I’ve been starting to look in charity shops, I’ll give that more effort.

Clearly my knees are too close to the ground to be within the retailers’ zone of profitability.

[Mouse]

Clearly my knees are too close to the ground to be within the retailers’ zone of profitability.

Can you not buy a longish mini which ends up as knee length on you? I didn't think too shorter a skirt was possible given the wide belts that some women wear...

[STEVIE]

Clearly my knees are too close to the ground to be within the retailers’ zone of profitability.

Can you not buy a longish mini which ends up as knee length on you? I didn't think too shorter a skirt was possible given the wide belts that some women wear...

......and some men!

[rode_kater]

I find that skirts sometimes fall quite differently than I expect. Because my waist/hip is different from most women, sometimes the skirt sits higher/lower than expected, which affects the effective length.

Generally, only once I actually try it on do I see where it actually ends up. Yay, thrift shops!

[Uncle Al]

May I suggest the following,

Get down on your knees and measure from your waist to the floor.
Have someone help you to do this. Keep as straight as possible.
This is the first step when measuring for a kilt. Next, measure your
waist, at your navel(natural waist). Hip measurement is not needed
with A-Line skirts as the skirt will drape over your hips quite naturally.

Keep these measurements handy when looking for skirts. Use your
tape measure to measure the skirt so you don't have to 'try it on'.
This concept works 9 times out of 10.

Just my $.02 worth

Uncle Al

[rode_kater]

I probably should have mentioned that my first check is: how does the skirt length match with the distance between my elbow and my fingertips. Since my elbow naturally lands nears my waist, my fingertips are about the length I'm usually comfortable with. And incidentally, if the width at the waist is less than that length I probably can't even get it on (unless it's stretch fabric).

These are quick guides which are useful if you're browsing a rack of skirts at a thrift shop.

[Stu]

I’m have difficulty finding something suitable though. Most skirts on sale are much shorter or much longer, and the one possible I found recently was 64cm when I really don’t want to go longer than 60cm (I’m not very tall).

Any suggestions?

In which country are you based?

I am in the UK and, of late, I have used Roman Originals, which I have found to be good quality, a perfect length, inexpensive and the right length:

https://www.roman.co.uk/pull-on-stretch ... t-17037843

Stu

[Skirt18220]

I'm another one saying look in a thrift or second hand shop. The one in my town has lots of skirts. Secondly find a local Seamstress. It won't cost much for shorting a skirt. He/She will even measure you for the length you want.

[Kirbstone]

For skirting, I'm a 'knee length' person. Alas, most ladies' skirts catalogues jump from mini to midi and knee-lengths are difficult to track down.

Most mens' kilts come in a standard 24" or 60cm length, which places the hem below the knee on short guys, e.g. 5 foot 7-9, or right up on the top of the kneecap for taller blokes, e.g. 6 foot 2-4. Bespoke lengths there tend to be very expensive.

Several times I have followed Sk.18220's advice and taken brand new skirts to my tame seamstress for a cheap re-hemming. I also like flared skirts with slash pockets, which often come in midi lengths of, say 70-odd cm. No trouble to have a dozen cm chopped off, thus making such a skirt very pleasing to wear indeed.

Tom

[GerdG]

I’m still a very tentative skirt wearer, with just the one to my name - the classic knee length denim beginner’s model. I’d like to push the boat a little further now and fancy something in black - maybe cotton, maybe corduroy - but still knee length and so kilt-like.

I’m have difficulty finding something suitable though. Most skirts on sale are much shorter or much longer, and the one possible I found recently was 64cm when I really don’t want to go longer than 60cm (I’m not very tall).

Any suggestions?

Yes, it certainly is difficult to find a knee length skirt. Considering you are "not very tall", 64 cm/25" must be covering your knees. With my 5'9"/176 cm even 24"/61 cm skirt is to the long side. You can have utility kilts and denim kilts, made i Pakistan, in any length, you want, whether positioned for men or women. Or you could push the boat even further and accept miniskirts. It shouldn't be that difficult to find some nice 18-19" skirts (46-48 cm).