A. 2 inches past the knee; B. at the knee; or C. 2 inches above the knee:
A while back, one of my readers (thanks Elaine!) emailed me a link about determining one's ideal skirt length. The formula seems complicated, but the concept is simple: the most visually appealing skirt length shows 50% skirt and 50% leg. I will now walk through the "formula" ...
This will be the cover of my first book, titled "How to Look 10 Years Old."
Formula to find your ideal skirt length:
Step 1. Measure from your hipbone (that protruding bone) to the middle of your kneecap. This is A. For me, A = 17 inches.
Step 4. Divide the number from Step 3 by 2. For me, this is 4 / 2 = 2 inches. 2 inches is my "Magic Number."
Now, if you have short calves (A is greater than B), your ideal skirt length should be kneecap minus Magic Number. Per this formula, my ideal skirt length is 2 inches above the knee.
If you have long calves (A is less than B), your ideal skirt length should be kneecap plus Magic Number.
Do I personally follow this formula? Loosely, maybe. There are some "variables" that the formula does not factor in, for example:
- Heels. 3 inch heels elongate the lower leg visually by at least 2 inches.
- High-waisted skirts versus low-waisted skirts. The formula has you measure beginning at your hipbone, assuming that is where the skirt will be slung.
To mitigate these variables, I wore flats in all three photos and wore ninja black to distract from the waist of the skirt. I do agree that above the knee looks best on me, but knee-length should also be okay with heels. A brief look into my skirt history...
Above the knee
(17.5" H&M on left, 14" H&M on right)
At the knee
(20" Theory on left, 21" Ann Taylor Petites on right)
Hope this wordy post wasn't too boring. For those who actually did the "formula"... do you have short calves or long calves? Where do you prefer your skirt lengths to hit?
I prefer the "at the knee".
ReplyDeleteIt gives the illusion of more height<3
I think I like the "at the knee" length on you too~
VERY helpful post, thanks!^___^
XOXO
Miss. P
I agree. I like the at the knee on her best. She is so cute, though, they all look pretty good.
DeleteAwesome post! Love the visuals - that really helps. Off to add this to my list of petite links ... :)
ReplyDeleteI feel you the skirt looks great 2 inches above the knee for you. When measuring the proportions, was there any mention about longer body types or different builds? Usually petite people look better in mini dresses than really tall people, who look great in maxis. But I do see what you mean with the heels. It does look better right at the knee cap when wearing heels since they elongate the legs.
ReplyDeleteInteresting formula! I never thought about it so mathematically haha. Usually I stick to shorter lengths (1-2 inches above the knee) to maximize height and also because I want to avoid my calf area. If I go below the know, the hem hits at the calf and cuts me off at a very wide point.
ReplyDeleteShoes also count, as you mentioned, the "x-factor". With shorter skirts, I wear flats to minimize potential skankiness and with at-the-knee skirts, I slip on heels.
I never thought there was a formula for an ideal skirt length. According to the formula, my ideal length is 1.5 inches above my knee but I prefer going shorter and it depends on the type of skirt. I like to go shorter for flared styles at right above the knee for office styles. Cool post!
ReplyDeleteHow cool! At the knee is my favorite on you, and I see how heels can play a factor in that.
ReplyDeleteI measured once and got 1 as my magic number, but then I did it again and got 0.5...I suck at measuring... =P
Awesome post! I definitely like at the knee look on you but the shortest length looks great too!!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think the above knees (last pic of the 3) look best on you! I did mine and my magic number is 1. I'm thinking.. will it look right?
ReplyDeletei think the ones above the knees look best. being extremely short myself, wearing shorter skirts or shorts elongate my legs, and paired with heels or wedges make them look more lean and defined. the trick obviously is not to go to short though! great post!
ReplyDeleteSilly, you are one of the most gorgeous girls I've ever seen! Gar, I'm jealous :D
ReplyDeleteI like #3, just above the knee... I think it elongates your figure :)
Love,
Aya ( strawberrykoi.blogspot.com )
Very interesting. Which is best if you thighs and calves are the same length?
ReplyDeletegah you are so gorgeous! this post is really helpful, if only I had gorgeous gams like you! I like the "at knee" length, but the shorters suit you too!
ReplyDelete<3jimin
Ooh! This is very helpful : ) I'll have to measure and figure out my magic number when finals are over. I have short calves and really long upper leg .. so I look strange in skirts sometimes xD
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post! A is a definite no-no, B is good for work, and C is best if you're wearing flats. I'll have to whip out the measuring tape sometime and see what my magic number is!
ReplyDeleteI like the "at the knee" look best on you, but then the shorter lengths look nice too! And it is always nice to have a little bit of variety in skirt lengths for different heel heights and business vs. casual occasions.
ReplyDeleteWow this is the first time I've come across your blog & I really like it!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely following~! <3
Hmm I wear all lengths actually, though I usually go for at or above the knee as anything that hits near mid-calf just makes me stumpy. Skirt lengths is one of the only things that makes me enjoy being short since that means I can wear shorter lengths without looking skanky!
ReplyDeleteAt the knee on you when wearing heels! Very curious because I always thought shorter skirts automatically meant looking taller, but your silhouette looks longer and leaner in the at-the-knee pics!
ReplyDeleteAlso your 10-year-old picture is how I usually look. :D Shorts and flats, yay.
I would definitely have to vote.....above the knee. It just looks better!
ReplyDeleteB. the knee length. above the knee makes you look shorter the below the knee doesn't flatter you at all... though the succeeding pictures are all pretty :)
ReplyDeleteabove the knee is just perfect for you! but like you said, at the knee is do-able if wearing heels. it looks just fine too.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! On petite women, I think above the knee looks best.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same for myself -- I like skirts at knee length, but only with knee high boots or heels.
If not, skirts JUST above the knee (but not any higher as I'm 5'4") tend to look the best on me.
If not, I just look frumpy.
cool post, very informative
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, at the knee looks best on you
roxy
http://roxybeautyblog.blogspot.com/
It not only has to do with the length of the leg, but the width as well. You do NOT want a skirt to hit at your calves or exactly at your knee. These tend to be wider parts of the leg and will automatically make you look shorter. While I prefer 1-2 inches above the middle of the knee, you really need to find the most slender part of the leg and make sure the skirt shows that part. It will elongate the look.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Even though I am 4'11, for work I usually do at the kneed with no tights but with tights I let myself wear a shorter skirt.
ReplyDeleteat the knee. for sure.
ReplyDeleteDepending on the occasion but I like it at the knee since I too don't have much to work with. I love the fact that i can get away with shorter skirts though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post, really enjoyed it.
This is awesome. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for entering my giveaway! I'm a new follower. :)
very interesting!!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous post!
ReplyDeleteIn your experiment -- given the skirt shape -- I prefer at the knee as well (though I think .5 inch shorter might be even better). The 2" above looks good but not quite *as* good.
ReplyDeleteIn your example photos, I think knee-length looks stunning and the 14" with tonal heels/tights makes you look super-leggy. So with your leg shape you really can't go too wrong!
I have not had coffee yet so no way am I attempting the measuring...but I'm a sucker for all such formulas so will try later, thanks!
Wow this post is awesome! I love your mathematical approach to finding the ideal skirt length.
ReplyDeleteThe title of your book (silly girl) is hilarious. I love it.
love you in that knee length theory skirt, & that vibrant pink looks great on you!
Steph
Great tutorial! Not too sure if I would follow this to strictly but I do love skirts that are just above the knee. You do look really young in the picture of you in shorts!
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to visit my blog!
I saw pictures of the kid stam and was instantly heartbroken that they don't have it anymore. I've been rethinking the stam and will look into either the "little stam" or the "cecilia". It is heavy in person.
Way to take the formula and make a great visual tutorial out of it! You illustrated it beautifully. Keeping these principles in mind helps with online shopping too, since we can't always assume a skirt or dress i going to look the same on us as the model!
ReplyDeletei had a question, what if you have big calf muscles?
ReplyDeleteoh i love your blog and your reviews and tips! :) So before I thought i was petite... but i guess NOT REALLY. haha because I'm 5'3" and like 95lbs... so KINDA? lol.. but thanks for all of your reviews, ya!
ReplyDeleteoh yeah! I have a question, i read that you have taken your first step of the CFA exam. is it hard? I think i'm taking it next year :( YIKES!!!
Hey Diane, I honestly am not so sure about the big calf muscles. I looked at some photos online, and agree with what a reader mentioned above - it's important to have a skirt (or shorts) end at a narrow part of your leg. If it ends at the wide part of your leg like the middle of the calf, then it may be unflattering. Sorry I am not much help!
ReplyDeleteKellie - You definitely are petite ... 5'4" and below is fairly petite, and you're my weight plus 3+ inches taller .. wow! The first level of the CFA wasn't bad, but the second level is daunting to me. It will probably take me a year to get through the 7 books, so I postponed Level II until next year - it sucks that it's only once a year. Best of luck to you, though!
great post and super informative!!!
ReplyDeleteI most like the one 2 inches above your knee, you could probably also use one an inch or two longer than the longest skirt.
ReplyDeleteMy sewing teacher always say. A skirt should hit your leg at a point where the leg goes in. to make the legs look slim. I am petite, but have really solid legs, so I always go for mid-calf length or rarely just above the knees, since those are the only points where my legs curve in.
Tania
Just stumbled across your blog...5'2" here. My A = 19"; B = 16", so I'm short-calved. I typically buy skirts to fall around the knee or just below (I almost always wear 2-3" heels though). My thinking had been that a) that length is work-appropriate and b) just below my knee cap is right before where my calf gets really muscular.
ReplyDeleteLast year when I started running a lot more, I decided I'd invest in some flats to throw in the mix so I wasn't risking issues with my leg muscles/knees/feet 5 days a week -- and with flats, I feel like I can justify wearing skirts just above the knee to work.
This is so confusing.I have 26" inseam you said you have 28" inseam, but I just measured my outseam and the results were exatly like urs. 13/17. are you sure ur measurment is right? I just don't get how somebody with 28" inseam can have the same leg length as a 26" inseam.or maybe ur iseam is 26". idk.
ReplyDeleteit's no big deal, but I'm just curious.
Interesting post. Something to keep in the back of my mind when I shop for skirts.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I realy think that if one doesn not have nice legs, then they should avoid minis. They simply don´t look nice on chunky legs, or legs that are just not nice. Doesn´t matter what height the person is.
ReplyDeleteI actually think you look the best in the knee length skirts you posted! It really depends on the type of skirt though.
ReplyDeleteI like above the knee lenght, you look awsome.
ReplyDeleteI am near 40,5'0, size 1 petite, would be ok a so short skirt for my age?
i dont look old. ( at least I think I don´t)
I tend to think above the knee looks great on petite people :) you look great in at-the-knee too! My magic number is 3, I'd like to think I suck at measuring but in all honesty I have really short calves...My A = 18" and my B = 12". Yikes.
ReplyDeleteI have short calves so I prefer above the knee =]
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am like you and I don't think I will follow the formula so strictly because your eyes are always the best "formula" (if that makes any sense) ;D
you actually look pretty stumpy in the short skirts despite showing more leg.I don't know where you have it in your mind that wearing shorter skirts make you look taller.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your useful post! My magic number is 3. But personally, I think that is scantily clad So I usually choose one inch above the knee.Is this too conservative?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, this was very helpful :D
ReplyDeleteI've gotten taller since you first posted this but it still holds true. My thigh and my calves measure exactly the same, 18", and I really do look best with knee length skirts.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten taller since you first posted this but it still holds true. My thigh and my calves measure exactly the same, 18", and I really do look best with knee length skirts.
ReplyDeleteAt the the knee or just above looks best. As a rule of thumb, higher the skirt, higher the heels.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting...Are most people's A-B measurements a difference of 4"? Mine are and so are my friend's sister's and mom's...
ReplyDeleteYour blog is so necessary, I thought the knee length looked best on you and I noticed how your demeanor/attitude shifted in different skirt lengths as well. To me the shorter skirt length made you look childish, in a way, if you want to look younger than you already are. The knee length skirt made you look sophisticated and the clothes looked better. Wear more dresses!
ReplyDeleteI prefer at the knee. That is really good for you. You look prettier with that length.
ReplyDeleteI loved this post! I have short calves -- 14 inches. My "magic" number is 2.25, but personally I like the look of my skirt hitting right in the middle of the knee. (And I thought that was the most flattering on you as well) I rarely wear a skirt without heels so I think that helps the overall look. Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteI'm late to the party here, but thank you for your wonderful post. I'm 5'3", almost 60 (yikes), and fashion-challenged. Your info and formula are a big help. I like both skirt lengths on you. The above-the-knee skirts look fun, and would be great for going out. The at-the-knee-length skirts make you look sophisticated and elegant. At my age, my length of choice for myself will be middle of the knee.
ReplyDeleteI’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really
ReplyDeletenice, keep it up! I'll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back in the future. Many thanks
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