Welcome back to the Velvet Runway, where today I want to tackle the “great skirt length debate” : Is it acceptable to wear short skirts once you hit 40.

It can be tricky finding your way through the fashion and beauty minefield at any age, but when you reach the big 4-0, it becomes positively hazardous!

So, I want to share some tips for how to look your best at forty and beyond, although it’s not obligatory to be over forty to read on!

Fabulous at Forty : The skirt length debate

The “F” is for “Fashion” or “Fabulous at forty and beyond” and NOT “Frumpy and beyond help“! So, this week, I’m going to start with the commonly held belief that you shouldn’t wear short skirts once you’re over 40.

My personal take on this particular rule is that it is false, and that how you dress depends on many factors, but that whether you’re 39 or 41 isn’t one of them!

I believe that there are three basic rules (sorry to make it more complicated!) to wearing short skirts that apply at any age, and that getting the right fit, shape and style of a skirt can make the difference between looking fabulous or looking frumpy!

You should always dress for your shape

Clearly, the type of skirt that is best for you and the choice of skirt length depends on your body shape, and in particular, your legs, within reason -I’m certainly not advocating wearing a micro mini skirt at our age (or even at younger age!).  However, if you’re happy with your legs then I don’t think there is anything wrong with wearing a short skirt.

However, if your legs aren’t your best feature, then you would look and feel better in a longer length skirt.

Other factors to take in to account when choosing a skirt are

  • Does it fit? This is probably the most important factor in choosing a skirt, as if something fits correctly you will not only look younger but also more polished and expensively dressed.
  •  An A-line skirt can be very flattering if you have wider hips, bigger legs or wide shoulders as they will balance you out.
  •  Straight skirts can be very flattering if you are comfortable with your tummy area
  •  Skirts that finish just above or on the knee are very flattering, as they show off the full calve, which creates a slimming look. Beware of skirts that end at the middle (and thickest) part of your calves, unless you are very tall and slim.
skirt length debate

You should dress appropriately for the occasion

There are certain situations when a short skirt would be appropriate, for example: I often wear a short skirt when I’m going to be on my feet all day; as it means I can wear flat shoes and so be more comfortable.

However, I don’t think that a short skirt is appropriate for a business meeting or a school parent-teacher evening, for which I would probably opt for a pencil skirt with higher heels.

Remember the golden rule – legs or boobs, but never both!

This age-old rule is most definitely true. If I’m wearing a short skirt then I would definitely wear a simple, covering top and flat shoes. However, if I’m wearing a longer length skirt, then I might wear a lower-cut top and high heels.

Skirt length

For me, the skirt length is just a guideline and certainly not a  ‘rule’ set in stone. I still wear both short and long skirts and I will wear shorts or even a mini dress on a summer holiday to the beach.

When choosing a skirt, test out several lengths and see what works best for you – the key questions to ask yourself are : Does it fit correctly? Does it look good on me? Is the skirt cut and length flattering? Is it appropriate for the occasion I have in mind? And most importantly – does it make me feel good?

“If you feel good when you put it on and it gives you joy – buy it!”

Barbara Hulanicki (the inspiration behind the BIBA range)

I hope you enjoyed this feature about The Great Skirt Length Debate, and have a look here for more of our style features.