Recently at a fashion show, I found watching the young volunteers much more interesting than the models. A professor at a nearby college had brought down about a dozen young girls, all majoring in fashion design, merchandising and allied fields, to act as ushers, taking tickets, etc.
Almost by definition all were interested in fashion and yet none knew anything about dressing.
One young lady was wearing a knockoff of a Herve Leger bandage dress. Made of black spandex, it was entirely backless, the front consisted of two loose vertical panels barely covering her breasts and the "skirt" was a short band of spandex over the hips. This, at 1:00 in the afternoon. This poor girl felt and looked so uncomfortable . Every time she moved she had to adjust the front panels and with every step the skirt rode up, flashing the crowd.
At least she was thin. Another young lady was about 20 lbs. overweight and also wore a knockoff spandex dress. This one had a back and a front but the skirt again barely covered her hips. When a skirt starts out barely covering the crotch, if it rides up..... Needless to say, many of the men were staring and snickering.
I was embarrassed for the girls but that was nothing compared to how embarrassed they were.
Another young lady was wearing a dress made of some silky fabric that ended at the top of her thighs. Sitting was impossible and even standing, the dress was barely legal.
When a toddler wears a dress that barely covers her diaper, it looks adorable. When an 18-year-old wears a dress the same length, it looks cheap.
I am a firm believer in wearing clothes short for a number of reasons. At least in my case, being very petite and having excellent legs it's a no-brainer. If your legs are halfway decent short skirts make you look younger and are more flattering. The legs are the last to go so if you had good legs as a young girl, you'll continue having good legs as an older woman. Longer skirts make you look dowdy. Having said this, there can be too much of a good thing. When a skirt ends at the top of the thighs, it's neither flattering nor comfortable. A skirt should be like a good story; long enough to cover the subject and short enough to be interesting.
Miriam Silverberg is a freelance writer and the president of Miriam Silverberg Associates, a boutique publicity agency in Manhattan. She may be reached at silverbergm@mindspring.com.
