Oh midi skirt. You are absolutely everywhere. Warehouse in particularly seem to be in love with the medium skirt length but for the more petite girls it’s a notoriously tricky length to pull off.
I say ‘petite’ as I really can’t abide the word ‘short’ but alas at 5 ft 2 (5 ft 3 on a good day), I fall into this category. If I want to wear a skirt this summer it appears it’s got to be a midi but how to I escape the stumpy leg look?
Well according to the fashion types on the internet here’s how smaller ladies can wear the trend of the season, and hopefully the taller girls amongst us get a fashion fix too…
Go Crop
I’m not sure this is one I’ll be trying out but I suppose it makes sense; go high waisted on the skirt and flash a bit of flesh with a crop top and you break up all the fabric. The high-low combo creates a flattering and elongated silhouette and as the skirt sits on the waist you don’t need to have a six pack to carry it off.
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Flash Some Leg
On the same principle as above, a subtle reveal of the leg will detract away from longer length of fabric. Below are some demure versions as there are some very high slits out there. Wowsers.
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Give The Illusion
So you don’t want to expose your tummy or exhibit your thigh, well how about a sheer or embroidered overlay? With a shorter skirt liner underneath you get the midi look but not the expanse of material making for a more streamlined appearance.
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Go Wild With Print
If you feel like you’re going to drown in one shade then there are some stunning pattern and prints out there at the moment which are worth a try. The Asos animal print one (in the header above) is my favourite although I fear it may be bordering on a maxi for moi.
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Fake It
Well let’s face it, if you can’t beat them then join them. A friend of mine wore a pencil midi with trainers last week and looked epic however I’m not sure most petite girls can get away with flats or ankle boots with these mid lengths. Therefore it’s all about the skyscrapers. The higher the better. I always find the less strap action better to elongate the leg and there are some very pretty pastel pointed courts around at the moment which are just the ticket.
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Glancing around my office the other day at all the trendy ladies in their skirts I noticed the more vertically challenged girls had gone for a sleeker, more streamlined tube pencil skirt. Still way past the knee but figure enhancing and oh so chic. Maybe that should be my first port of call? However I didn’t get very far with potential options hence the lack of pencil midis in the post. I’m not too sure I’m entirely convinced yet by the mid length skirt but I plan to try on a few at the weekend.
Are you lovely ladies embracing the midi trend? What are you sporting and how do you wear it?
Oh the woes of being ‘Petite’ if that’s what we’re calling it! 🙂 I have actually bought a couple of midi style dresses this summer though, I couldn’t resist – it seems there’s not much out there that isn’t mid length! One is a wrap style dress which I plan to wear with heels, the other is a cami dress which has side slits – I definitely think this helps! This style of dress suits flats more but I am worried about whether I can get away with it! xxx
Side splits are such a good call Kate. Here’s to flashing a bit of leg! ?
Oh to be tall and willowy! I have the same problem Lauren and I own one tube mini skirt than very occasionally in the summer months makes it out of my wardrobe. Every time I wear it I feel frump without the leg length to make it feel elegant, and as for the wider style skirts, I have long coveted a swishy number for weddings etc but just can’t help feeling like little bo peep when I try them on! Will try some of your short girls suggestions 🙂
Bo Peep made me laugh out loud!
I just wish I had a bit more of the bottom of my legs to show!
At last! Finally fashion has embraced skirts that tall girls can look awesome in! As a 5ft 8 girl with not particularly flattering thighs I have struggled for years to find skirts that are equally fashionable and look good. You petite girls have had your years in the sun with your minis and short shorts… Let us have our moment and enjoy skirts that don’t make us look like our grandmothers!
Get those pins out Hannah. You can wear any length!
Oh Lauren – I totally blame you for the fact I am now browsing shoes on ASOS at 8.14am on a work day!!!
Sorry Janey!……
Did you buy anything? 😉
I too am 5ft 2, and really love a midi length! I tend to go for short in winter when I can wear black tights, but short and bare legs isn’t very practical for work and increasingly I like to be a bit more covered up (especially as my toddler has me running around everywhere and sitting on the floor a lot, short skirt and flashing knickers isn’t a good look). So I have discovered the midi length and I rock it with flats and trainers too (which I’m probably not ‘supposed’ to, but fashion should be about wearing what you enjoy not what the ‘rules’ tell you I figure!) – I’m really not bothered about wearing heels either. I used to think I’d look a bit frumpy with fat calves, but I tend to find because I’m short the midi length, which is probably supposed to sit on the widest part of the calf,sits just below there so doesn’t look too bad (I hope anyway). I never thought i’d be able to wear wide leg trousers either, they swamp me, however I discovered some wide culottes from Zara this year that are cropped to a midi length – and they are my new favourite thing! Wear what you enjoy I say! xx
Kate, you are so right! Fashion should be about wearing what you enjoy.
You must send a link over to the cullottes!
I’m sure you’re well aware but in case not, the Zara sale started last night, and has LOTS of midi skirts and culottes that will be no doubt worming their way in to my basket over the course of the day! Happy shopping all xx
Ooh I need to check the sale out – thanks. & Other Stories also have some fab midi length dresses/skirts – sorry! xx
Aside from the stumpy leg syndrome (I’m another five foot three-er) I find that maxi skirts make me look like I have a backside as large as an elephant’s. Why this is, I do not know so however much I love them on other girls it’s not a trend I’ll be embracing this summer. The dotty Boohoo one is amazing though!
It’s cute isn’t it?
Yeah these skirts and patterned playsuits – I always feel amplify my derrière. Not the look I want to go for.
I’m 5’3 too and thought that I couldn’t wear midi length, but it’s become my new favourite. A high-waisted pencil skirt with a pair of heels actually makes me look taller than wearing a mini. Give it a try! It’s A-line midis that are a bit more unflattering on us little-ies. Also, I’ve discovered that although I’m too stumpy for trainers with midis, a good flatform shoe or platform trainer works much better.
Smashing tip Ali. Bring on the flatforms x
I bought this one from (of all place) M&S and its lush http://www.marksandspencer.com/tailored-fit-pleated-skirt/p/p22478467?image=SD_01_T59_3219A_UT_X_EC_90&color=GREYMARL&prevPage=plp
I’m only 5 3 as well and it looks good with flats and heels (they also have it in green #dirtyenabler)
Ooh I bet you can dress this little beauty up and down Claire. Perfect for us capsulers!
Oh I was admiring this in green and rust the other day. Love it
I’ve made midis work for me (5’4) by doing the ‘crop tip’ that you included, but after 3 kids I Wouldn’t be doing myself any favours by showing my midriff! So I wear slim fitting tops with a boxy/crop jacket (denim being my favourite!). It seems to work… I saw a photo of myself the other day and didn’t recoil in horror at the sight of stumpy legs! I wear converse shoes with my skirts as I find I look too much like a golf club in trainers! ?
Your name made me laugh 😉 Sounds as though there’s no stumpy legs where you are! Converse is a good tip, with my Stan Smiths I definitely echo the golf club comment 😉 x
Ha ha ha this made me laugh too! These tips are great though – I’m tempted to try a midi now (I’m the same height as you but with short legs/long body so double joy of stumpy legs, I would only ever wear a maxi or a mini), I already have a cropped denim jacket….. x
And you have pointy courts and trainers too Charlotte. Get yourself a midi pronto!
I hope so cos I’ve been doing so for months! With flats and without flashing any skin.
Cool, it’s true that I’ve read a guideline that the longer the skirt the flatter the shoe, but it depends on the waistline too, higher heels for lower waistline. But it can work this way too, especially being petite, high heel can be pulled off more easily most of the time.
Of course it depends on infinite other factors and personal style ;).
Love these tips! Everyone should rock a midi skirt.