I won this dress from Missguided just before Christmas. I love the colour and the arms, but the length? Not-so-much.
At 5'4" this is only a few inches away from skimming my crotch. If I lift my arms up above my head everyone gets a free show. What is it like for anyone taller than me?
Is it too much to ask to have the fabric of the dress cover your bum when you sit down? This one does, but just barely. There is no way I'd be wearing this dress without tights.
So my solution to the problem is this…
I am so glad I didn't get rid of this petticoat from Anthropologie.
The bag is a long ago purchase from Anthropologie as well.
With the addition of these accessories this dress is much more "me".
I guess that lots of this obsession with super short dresses and skirts comes from Asia where they consider their legs to be one of their best assets and want to show them off.
I have seen some gals wearing their skirts so short that their butt cheeks hang out the back.
Really it's not a skirt at all. It's a waist ruffle.
I've even read that with all these super short skirts and dresses that subway seats, bus seats, restaurant seats, you name it are all covered in all kinds of bacteria because basically people are sitting on them butt naked. Literally. Their skirts and dresses no longer long enough to provide a thin layer of fabric protection between themselves and anywhere they choose to sit.
What do you feel about the length of skirts and dresses? Like Goldilocks…too short, too long or just right?
Linking up with all my friends at: Visible Monday Share-in-Style 52 Pick-me-up
I’m completely skeeved out over random skanks germs on public seating-eeeeewwww
I love what you did putting the petticoat under the dress–FABULOUS!!
Very recognizable! I find many skirts and dresses too short as well. So I elongate them like you did so well above: by addng a longer skirt underneath. Or, when it’s cold, tights or leggings.
Ridiculous that a dress is even too short for a petite like yourself!!
I love the dress on you. The colours an pattern are very flattering on you. And your ‘solutions’ are perfect. What a great look this way!
LOL at “waist ruffle” – that look is only cute up to age two, maybe. But you – you look fabulous with your hem-ruffles and mysterious beret. Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday! xo
You found the perfect solution for that problem that torments us all. And did it looking very good, indeed. Well done!
Eew! I’m guessing the tube in London is equally infested as the same thing with hemlines happens here all the time – I think it’s a global thing with anyone under the age of 20 something because I’ve seen the so short your butt hangs out in several countries now, none of them Asian.
I’ve stopped buying dresses in certain stores as I know the hemlines won’t be substantial enough but I love your solution though! Gorgeous outfit – you look very beatnik with the beret, spec frames and collar necklace, but in a prettified way with those florals and the extra frill. Love it!
I am actually seeing a lot more maxis or skirts with tights and boots.
I just leave the short short skirts on the rack.
Popped by from Share in Style.
thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com
Lol see my post today. I’m at the opposite end. Love the mini skirts! You have great legs too, but if you dont feel comfortable, then they are not for you. and I love the “petticoat” underneath! so either way! There are many dresses that, yes even for me, are too short. They become tunics. xoxo
I love it with the petticoat…so much cuter with! You did great styling as well..now the dress is a keeper! Have a great week!
LOL…you are so funny! I love this post. I am so glad I don’t use public transportation since I live in a small city and the majority drive, however I completely agree about the bacterias all around public seats. I love how you styled this dress, looks like you are a adventurous fashionista and I love that! I’m pretty sure you never get bored with fashion 😉
and btw, thanks for visiting my blog.
xo
Carelia
MySmallWardrobe.com
I’m with you Suzanne, no way would I wear those short skirts and dresses. But, look at your creative process in the making? Brilliant idea and it looks so much classier. Did you send a copy of you to the designer? And, leave it to you to make my want-ness attitiude emerge again. I so WANT that purse, absolutely awesome and with so much personality.
I think this dress is so cute and you have made a way to get it longer with style. I often wonder the same thing. I’m the same height as you and so many dresses look too short on me. i would not have known you added another layer if you didn’t show us. Great solution.
blue hue wonderland
Aaack! I thought Tamera’s dead rodents on cake was bad, but now I’ll have nightmares about bus seats instead.
I’ve seen lots of short short skirts on TV. It seems like everyone is so over-exposed now – they feel compelled to look as slutty as possible, I guess. But I like the way you’ve used the petticoat to add some length and contrast. Such a pretty dress, it would be a shame not to wear it!
I love that: “Waist ruffle”
There are a couple skirts that are too short for work, and likely too short for life. I’ve been trying to weather it with really thick tights, but I need to find a petticoat!
Suzanne, great solution:-) but you rock the shorter version, too!!!Great legs and body made for this dress!!!
Groooossss!! That is such a nasty thought…makes me glad I live somewhere with no public transportation! Ha! You are such a genius putting that petticoat under the dress. Now it’s perfect and you look fabulous.
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.blogspot.com
Dresses are usually too short for my taste -But I comfortable wearing them with leggings – What about you? –
But you know what you can wear it them short, you have the legs, but I agree, you are or you are not comfortable even if you have the legs –
I love how you layered it, this is how I would wear it too!
Antrophologie is such a nice shop, I should go there soon!
Bisous
Arianexo
Totally grossed out about the bacteria! The dress doesn’t look to short in the pics but I have to say that I love it with the petticoat – it’s so much more Suzanne chic! I seriously love how you always make thing your own style!
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
I love you comment on the dress’ length. I also always wonder why skirts and dresses are so short or so long.
Too short. I love how you called it a waist ruffle. I often call the short short skirts glorified belts. I am familiar with short skirts, I skated for close to 20 years. But those skirts had little pants under them. When regular, on the street, skirts are shorter than that. That is short!!
Love how you accessorized the dress. I used to just pair my shorter dresses over pants or leggings. But have just started experimenting with wearing skirts/dresses over other skirts/dresses. I might have to keep an eye out for a petticoat. Very much my style.
Suzanne you’ve done an unbelievable job of styling the dress – it looks so much better for having a petticoat underneath! All the accessories are perfect too… it looks so good. And yes to dresses always being too short!! It’s so hard to find knee length and midis, though I have been embracing shorter lengths lately (only because it’s cold and I can wear tights with them).
Catherine x
You have beautiful legs, but I couldn´t agree more with you about the length.
Aren´t you clever, yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I shall copy your idea in the future.
Love and sunshine always.
Thank you sooooooooo much to join Share-in-Style.
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Seriously though. I’m not tall either–and I can’t imagine wearing many dresses as plain old dresses without jeans underneath and treating them as a tunic. That’s where I like the online stores where I can at least find a good old knee-length skirt to twirl in. Why would you want to feel uncomfortable and naked everywhere in a too-short dress? Several of my sisters are 5’7″ or 5’8″ and yeah, there’s almost no such thing as a dress, just “shirts”. 😛
i will now have that thought every time i ride a bus!! i think it looks great on you short because you have amazing legs! but, i get what you’re saying and love the addition of the petticoat!
this is such a smart idea! I love that you added the petticoat underneath to make it more you (as you stated) and much more appropriate (length-wise).
xo,
nancy
Perfect solution. The petticoat adds style and coverage. By coincidence, just this morning I was in court and startled at how high a middle-aged woman’s dress was. It’s a formal setting and she’s wearing mid-thigh length which was inappropriate there. You raise an interesting subject.
Great dress, Susan! You have inspired me to get a floral dress and length it by wearing my knife pleated skirt I wore last week, under it Yes! Thank you.
Odd? Did my comment disappear?
I am very glad you found that perfect petticoat for wearing underneath it. Together with the belt and the bag it is indeed totally you and so much nicer.
I used to wear my skirt this short (and shorter) when I was 17. We did not know better. It was the sixties and seventies. We had no taste, just wanted to annoy our parents and thought we look marvelous. Which we did not.
Greetje
There’s so many pretty dresses I have to turn down because of their length. I wonder what percentage of women can actually pull off something that short. It always seems like a poor decision on the designer’s part to create something so skimpy. It’s amazing what you were able to do with this dress. That petticoat changed the whole look. Now the dress looks like a gorgeous vintage piece!
Lolling at “Waist Ruffle.”
Also, I like the way it looks with the petticoat.
I know what you mean, I’m always anxious ordering clothes online because I’m worried the small will be too short… and I’d rather everything else be a little big than having my bum show! haha. your solution actually MAKES the dress. love what you did! so cute and genius!
xxx
Lady à la Mode
Four inches do make a difference! At 5′ I’m finding that dresses like this hit just above my knee, which could work! So I’m doing less hemming these days. This does looks grand on you with the solution you chose. How about just a sheer ruffle-pleated thingie in black sewn on if you wanted to be able to skip the layers? I can so see this dress with silky pants or satiny black pants as well.
You are just the coolest girl. Really! I learn something from you, always!
Makes you want to carry Purell in a spray container everywhere you go.
When we were in Florida a woman and her baby came to the restaurant we were at. She spent 15 minutes wiping down the table, sides of the table, under the table, the chair, the bench everything that they could touch. The plates, the utensils, it was quite insane actually. I figure that baby is going to be sick because she won’t be exposed to enough germs to keep her immune system healthy.
You are tall though right? I’m sure it is much worse for you.
Yeah…waist ruffles should be banned on everyone but babies and ballerinas.
I have this problem All. The. Time. Dresses are positively crotchtacular these days. I’m 5’11”. I have dresses from Zara that I wear as tunic blouses because of this.
I’m 5’1″ tall and I still have the same problem. But I love how you solved the issue. This is simply cuteness!
Very cute outfit. I love how you styled the dress. Very original.
Love this idea! Time to look for a petticoat 😉
InMyJoi.blogspot.com
Fabulous look! Very Annie Hall, with the glasses. I love a pinafore style look myself. Yes, cute dresses are often too short, so I do like you’ve done and put another skirt underneath. I was always a fan of layering anyway.
Much love from England,
Rose from http://www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.blogspot.com
You rescued that dress with the addition of the petticoat! Well played, and I love the combination of colors. Your accessories really transform it from “another one of those short dresses from China” to something special.
I was notorious for my 15″ mini skirts — really hip tubes — in 7th and 8th grade that I sewed myself. I went to a small (11 classmates) private grade school. The headmaster’s wife (bastion of propriety) complained to my mom that my undies were showing. My mom replied, “If she doesn’t care, neither do I”. Coolest Mom award!
Your Mom totally was cool!
How brilliant to go to a school with only 10 other kids.
Dress is still too short. What happened to below the knee dresses? Those are the most classical, most comfortable and most nicest dresses and are the first to go from the store rack. Leftover unsold dresses are those skimpy, short and tight ones that nobody wants to buy. Is this some kind of conspiracy to make us wear dresses with LESS fabric meaning more money for the manufacturer, designer, etc?
I’m late to read and comment to this, but I agree and have thought this for a long time. There are so many classic fit-and-flare dresses on the market that would be nice if they made them knee-length instead of up to mid-thigh. I figure they’re trying to emulate a ’50s style, yet they feel the need to “modernize” it, and apparently that means hiking up the skirt. It’s becoming so hackneyed now. Why can’t the modernization come with new prints or cool details on the bodice? Knee-length never goes out of style. When I see one of the cute dresses at Target, I think this is clearly meant for a 12-year-old. I like DVF dresses, and I bought a couple ones from Realisation…that brand has plenty of way-too-short dresses, but the Teale and Juliet are both about tea-length and I think very cute. Nothing against mini-dresses, but mini-everything is just too much. I seriously think they’re doing it to save production costs due to less fabric… but they can present it as though they’re just being fashion-forward.
I totally agree. I believe this is also the issue as to why most tops are sleeveless as well now too. Cutting production costs.
You should search out vintage pieces. They are always a wonderful feminine length. That is my go-to now.
2018 and the dresses are still too short. So I googled why and came across this write up.
My solution:
I’m 5’4″, I took up sewing and now sew all my skirts and dresses knee length or an inch below. Come to find out, women used to sew their own wardrobe about 50 or 70 some years ago.
Still, it’s probably cutting back on costs thus most clothing manufacturers are keeping the lengths short. Yuck!
Congrats on your creative solution for this dress, simply beautiful. Best of luck to others who may come up with similar creative solutions as well.
Another solution I’ve found Annie is to buy vintage clothing. The dresses were all longer then!
I have friends that sew because of this but I’m not one of them.
It is disappointing to see the dresses that are available for purchase. They are all so short or so long to the ankles with an ugly material and too patterned, cheap sewing, unhemmed skirts, unlined sheer blouses, and sizing is incorrect. What happened to solid colours besides always black? If you get a bigger size, then it might fit at the waist but then the neckline and sleeve holes are all gaping. The short dresses might be fine for a 5’2″ woman but not for the average woman that’s for sure. Why is it that dresses and tops are made so tight across the chest and waist, and the waistline is always sewn a bit too high? That’s another problem I’ve seen. In the past it was not like that. Who is designing our dresses? Are American and European designers overseeing the patterns in China’s factories? or are they buying directly from the Chinese manufacturers which were meant for Asian consumers? I have yet to see a properly fitting knit dress. Those are hard to find but if you do, the sizing is atrocious.
As you can see, I have a beef with the dress manufacturers. LOL