Anyone petite? Re: dress lengths

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skigirl1689

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I know there are a lot of debates regarding modesty and dresses/skirts/shorts being too short, and for the most part I completely agree that longer is better. I’m not sure if I am just too influenced by seeing what others wear but I am debating if the dress I am planning on wearing to my sister’s wedding is too long for my petite height. It falls right below my knee so it is a longer dress by today’s standards (maybe I’m just not used to how it looks on me?).

I guess I am just looking for opinions. My other sister is very tall and is wearing a dress that falls above her knees plus high heels (I, on the other hand, cannot wear any type of heel). I guess I’m just wondering what length dresses others wear that look nice for their short stature.

Thanks:)
 
You could try this:

theaustralian.com.au/news/looking-good-is-as-easy-as-1-2-3-says-mathematician/story-e6frg6n6-1226524340194

Dresses for shorter women are sometimes difficult (my wife is not tall, and like you prefers not to wear heels). I think a hem that falls just below the knees is rarely flattering for a shorter woman as it seems to cut the legs in a way that just doesn’'t work well; it cuts through the bulk of the calf muscle, excentuating that muscle in a less than flattering way and shortening the look of the leg generally. It’s probably better to go a touch above the knees (if you are comfortable in such), or a fuller length altogether.
 
I’m a “vertically challenged” person, too. 🙂

When I wear skirts, I usually wear the long kind (ankle-length or top-of-feet length) because I like how they feel, and I don’t have to worry about tugging them down, etc. I’ve heard that conventional wisdom says small folk shouldn’t wear long skirts, but to this “wisdom” I only say: :p:D

I also don’t wear heels.

Wear what makes you feel good, skigirl! If you feel good, you’ll look beautiful! 👍
 
From a guy’s opinion: longer is better. When girls try to where short dresses or revealing shirts; it isn’t attractive it is disgusting. I believe St. Padre Pio wished that all woman wear dresses no shorter than 9 inches below the knee inside the confessional. Modesty is the best policy. 👍
 
Canonized saints like St. Gianna wore appropriate clothing for their era. Note that St. Gianna wore slacks(!) and slightly below knee length skirts (!) and probably would have worn slightly above knee length skirts had it been the fashion as it is now. There is nothing inherently immodest in wearing a skirt/dress with a hemline that is slightly above the knee. It can be more flattering for a petite woman. Obviously, more care must be taken in terms of how one sits, but that doesn’t negate the fact that it is not immodest per se.

Oh, and yes. What about all the 1960’s type religious communities who wear knee length skirts as part of their habit? Surely the Church would have forbidden it if such attire was immodest instead of approving it.
 
I’m short… 5’0", and athletic build, so I have a hard time finding clothing that doesn’t make me look stocky because of my broad shoulders.

I *cannot *wear long dresses - first because I have to hem everything (and I simply don’t have the time for that in life) and secondly because it accentuates my short stature… my husband has always commented that long skirts and certain dress styles look “boxy” on me, so I like to get his opinion.

For fancier occasions I wear dresses that hit just at the knee (not above!) - and heels are a MUST - they help lengthen my legs.
For work I wear skirts of similar length (at the knee) or pants. I normally wear flats to work.
 
Thank you everyone for your opinions :)! I tried on the dress again and am pretty sure it just isn’t right for the time of year (it is more suitable for a fall or early summer wedding). Plus I am not fully comfortable with how the neckline lays and would have to very conscious of sitting up straight all of the time (it is a faux wrap dress).

I think it would be ok if it was just a skirt that length but an entire dress of a solid color doesn’t give much to “break up” things up. It was actually the second dress I bought for the wedding, but I got both secondhand and spent probably less than for the two than I would on a brand new dress. The second is more of a sundress, paisley print, and falls above my knee but is definitely not an inappropriate length, even my dad likes the dress. It is definitely more age-appropriate (I’m in my mid-20s). I guess I was hesitant to wear a print as I find it is not as common anymore, at least at the weddings I’ve attended.

By the way, I tried the link in one of the replies, and maybe my calculations were wrong, but the length it gave me was waaay too short. So hard to find a happy medium when you are short ;).
 
SerraSemper said:
Canonized saints like St. Gianna wore appropriate clothing for their era. Note that St. Gianna wore slacks(!) and slightly below knee length skirts (!) and probably would have worn slightly above knee length skirts had it been the fashion as it is now. There is nothing inherently immodest in wearing a skirt/dress with a hemline that is slightly above the knee. It can be more flattering for a petite woman. Obviously, more care must be taken in terms of how one sits, but that doesn’t negate the fact that it is not immodest per se.

Oh, and yes. What about all the 1960’s type religious communities who wear knee length skirts as part of their habit? Surely the Church would have forbidden it if such attire was immodest instead of approving it.
Click to expand...
👍
 
I think “on the knee” is fine for something formal like this, where you are not doing anything where it’s difficult to stay modest - like grappling with children. Or failing that long / maxi - just below is difficult without heels or boots if your not quite tall & leggy.
 
My daughter is (age 17) is petite, she almost never wears anything above the knee, usually the dresses are few inches below the knee, she looks great/stylish. She laments about not being being able to wear long dresses, because long dresses in the store actually would drag on the ground for her. I custom ordered her prom for her junior year, and altered the one for her senior year because she really wanted long dresses for those occasions.
 
I am petite also - very small on top with heavier legs. I find knee-length, just hitting the top of my knee, skirts to be best for me. I also must wear heels in all but the most casual situations. They lengthen the leg and slenderize the whole body. Even a short heel makes a big difference.

Right now what is “in” is a more flared skirt. I would wear something with a fitted waist and a knee-length flare to the skirt. I also would wear a dress rather than a top/skirt combo as it’s more appropriate for a wedding.
 
I am five foot one and one half. My dress length is just exactly right below my knee. I wear all types of heels. My problem is finding something that doesn’t make me look like a teenager or
and old granny. (Actually, I am an old granny, but don’t tell anyone:D)
 
I just over 5 feet tall and when wearing flat shoes the most flattering dresses for me seem to be either very long (maxi-length-which can be sort of tricky to find in petite enough sizes) but not impossible, and full circle skirts/dress that sit just at the knee.
 
holyfamily1 said:
From a guy’s opinion: longer is better. When girls try to where short dresses or revealing shirts; it isn’t attractive it is disgusting. I believe St. Padre Pio wished that all woman wear dresses no shorter than 9 inches below the knee inside the confessional. Modesty is the best policy. 👍
Click to expand...
I will be provocative, I am French.
**
Why this obsession on the knees of women for defining the modesty and the corollary (the immodesty)!!!**

" From a guy’s opinion: longer is better. When girls try to where short dresses or revealing shirts; it isn’t attractive it is disgusting" * Could you explain to me the words " not attractive " but " disgusting ". What is disgusting? Could you show to me few examples, because your speech can be misunderstood? * Pictures!!!

I believe St. Padre Pio wished that all woman wear dresses no shorter than 9 inches below the knee inside the confessional.

Do you think that the moral theology of modesty is linked with the centimeters, the inches of garment? Are you serious? The “chariarization” of modesty is dangerous, is wrong, is bad, is awful. Even, a Saint can be touched by wrong intellectual approaches.
*
The modesty is relative in function of places, of temperatures, of persons, of culture…etc*.
 
fpt said:
I will be provocative, I am French.
**
Why this obsession on the knees of women for defining the modesty and the corollary (the immodesty)!!!**

" From a guy’s opinion: longer is better. When girls try to where short dresses or revealing shirts; it isn’t attractive it is disgusting" * Could you explain to me the words " not attractive " but " disgusting ". What is disgusting? Could you show to me few examples, because your speech can be misunderstood? * Pictures!!!

I believe St. Padre Pio wished that all woman wear dresses no shorter than 9 inches below the knee inside the confessional.

Do you think that the moral theology of modesty is linked with the centimeters, the inches of garment? Are you serious? The “chariarization” of modesty is dangerous, is wrong, is bad, is awful. Even, a Saint can be touched by wrong intellectual approaches.
*
The modesty is relative in function of places, of temperatures, of persons, of culture…etc*.
Click to expand...
I just have to say, I’m not sure I have 9 inches below my knees. I think 5 or 6 inches is where my heels start.
 
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