Midi length skirts and dresses are the newest trend on the style horizon for fall 2011. If you remember these numbers from the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, you may be thinking “Yikes, really?” If you don’t remember them at all, you may be ready to wear this new style with abandon. No matter which group you fall into, I encourage you to read on. Midi skirts can go terribly wrong! It’s easy to veer into “frump territory.” And it's especially for petite women  to completely destroy the long leg line you've worked so hard to achieve. Somewhat similar to mini skirts, there is a range of lengths for the midi, from barely below the knee to just above the ankle. Personally, I prefer midis on the shorter side; however, experimenting to find your perfect length skirt is advisable. Here are just a few tips to help you make the most of this new length:

• “Short over long,” is a rule you want to follow. In other words, since your skirt is long, be sure to pair it with a short jacket or tucked in blouse. This allows you an uninterrupted line from waist to hem.

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As you can probably guess, one of my favorite television shows is TLC’s What Not to Wear. One of Stacy and Clinton’s favorite mantras is when you wear clothes that fit your body, you look smaller. In other words, wearing loose or baggy clothes will make you look larger than you are. Within the realm of “clothes that fit your body” there are many variations. One of the fits that flatters most bodies is semi-fitted. For today’s post, I want to sing the virtues of the semi-fitted top. “Semi-fitted” is just what it sounds like. It’s not tight and it’s not loose, a.k.a. baggy. These tops hint at your body shape without showing it off or flaunting it. Hence, this is a great style for business, too. Semi-fitted tops best flatter women with a straighter waistline and women who have a tiny bit of a tummy. No matter what physical shape you’re in, if you have a boyish waist line, wearing tops that are tight or hug your torso only emphasizes your lack of curves. Likewise, wearing a tight top over your belly emphasizes the curve of your stomach. Alternatively, semi-fitted tops, as you can see (Read more...)