The rules for work fashion generally change depending on your age and position. However, there are a few rules that will never change, and one of those is the length of your skirt.
What is the best length for a skirt that commands the boardroom? A skirt that is too short detracts from your credibility and a skirt that is too long diminishes your polished, power look. Don't let your skirt stand in the way of your next promotion.
The rules for work fashion generally change depending on your age and position. However, there are a few rules that will never change, and one of those is the length of your skirt.
The Knees+2 Rule
Your skirt should cover your entire thigh region with about 2 inches showing above your knees. This is enough to keep all eyes on your presentation instead of your legs. Makes sense and sounds simple, right? The tricky part is that this applies when you are sitting (and crossing your legs).
The Sit Test
The Sit Test says that you should test the length of your skirt by sitting down and crossing your legs. The reason is that when you sit, your skirt will ride up a few inches. Then when you cross your legs, the skirt gets shorter by another few inches.
How long should the skirt be when I’m standing?
The best skirt length will come to about your mid-knee when you are standing. With this length, the skirt will be long enough to cover most of your thighs and will generally show about 2 inches of skin above your knees when you sit. We say “generally” because it will also depend on the fabric and style of the skirt, so just make sure you do the sit test when you try on the skirt.
Will a skirt length that is at my knee area make me look shorter?
This is a common misperception.
The knee length is flattering no matter how tall you are because the hemline is highlighting the smallest part of your legs.
This gives the impression of thinner and longer looking legs. Just don’t go too much longer. If the length gets into the calf area, that’s when the hemline cuts you at the largest part of your legs, which makes your legs look stumpy and short.
Does my age or title change the proper skirt length I should wear?
When it comes to skirt lengths, the knees+2 rule is generally age neutral. This is because the goal of the rule is to make sure that your legs are not a distraction. So if you’re 22 and just started working, or you’re 42 and are a senior VP, the same knees+2 rule applies. The skirt styles are what will vary based on your age and position.
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