Okay, this topic has long been a point of contention for women of all ages -- skirt length and age. Some argue that they should assume an inverse proportion (at least I think that's it - my math is rusty), meaning the older you are the longer the hemline gets. Some stick to the rule of no minis after 30, etc. etc. But seriously, are there hard and fast rules you follow on this topic?
I don't know about rules, but there are certain guidelines I've noticed, based on what looks good on a lot of other women, not just me.
Hems have a few good spots on every woman. My best is just below the knee. (knees show age-- take a look around) where the calves nip in just under the knee cap.
There comes a point where even if you CAN wear a mini, (say your legs are still super and your knees still look good) you shouldn't go too high because it starts to look desperate. Like you are trying way to hard.
If my knees and legs still looked great, I might go just above the knee cap or an inch or two above that even, that is another good spot on a lot of women, but I wouldn't go half way up the thigh. Leave that to the 17 yr olds on whom it looks ok if a little street walkerish.
Finding the perfect hem is different for each garment, and each body. Less about age, and more about maintaining a long pretty line with the clothing.
Same as it is in trousers. There are a few great hemlines for each woman depending on the width of the pant leg, the shoes, and the overall body shape of the woman wearing it.
So rules? no but finding your own "sweetspots" for hems yes.
And as for knees showing age, they tend to wrinkle first on the leg, you see it when another woman is standing -- and age spots or freckles land there. I think it's because sun hits the knees first and most. The other thing is that inside area where the knees face each other tends to get a little fat pad that gets a little loose.
I'll be brutally honest here. I have never seen a woman wearing an above-the-knee skirt who would not have looked better in a below-the-knee skirt. I just have never seen a truly attractive pair of knees, even when they're smooth and toned.
Having said that, I think every woman needs to find her perfect hem length, and you can do that with a sheet or towel and a tape measure. As you get older, super-minis need to go because they smack of desperation, but that doesn't mean you need to wear the frumpier hemlines. A just-below-the-knee (JBTK) hemline looks amazing on every age.
My latest dresses and skirts are hitting just above the knee. I like this length best for spring and summer.
I have to be careful with going too long or the proportions make me look short.
My general rule is that if the dress is going to be an issue when you're sitting down or getting in and out of a car, then really --it's too short.
At 5'4". I find that just above the knee is good. Really, it makes a difference whether or not I am wearing pantyhose and what the style of the skirt is. With pantyhose, you can go a little shorter. Without pantyhose, I like a little longer.
I've got very nice legs ~ shapely, muscular, smooth ~ and wore mini's into my 30's. As I've gotten older I've dropped the hemline. I don't even wear shorts anymore just capri's. I do, however, have to keep the hemline to just right above or at my knees because of the size of my calves (remember muscular?). Anything that hits below my knees just make me look frumpy and my calves look huge so that's as far as I'm willing to go right now. :-)
