Greetings tutu-wearing basset hounds! In what is possibly my most narcissistic post yet, today we’ll engage in a tournament style showdown between the 21 skirts (well, skirt-based outfits) worn during the month of May in order to determine the best style skirt for me. We will also have a short discussion on how I wore my ratty not-great-fitting white denim skirt FIVE TIMES last month. Clearly, I’m a girl in love with a short white skirt…
Best in Class
Alrighty, before we start with the main tournament, we need to do a few rounds for some skirts that got worn more than one time. First up…
The white skirt…
Hmmm…Obv, this is a favorite skirt, but I think I’m going to go with skirt #4 from the left as the winner – the white skirt with the cowboy shirt and platform sandals. I like the shoes and how the tied shirt-tails cinch the waist a bit…
Note: if there’s too many words for your taste, you can see which photo wins because I switched the border style to a white border with a drop shadow!!
Blue denim…
Next round, the blue denim skirt. Same pattern as the white skirt, just dark blue denim.
OK… I really like how the cardigan provides some waist definition in the (poorly lit hotel) photo on the right, but I think the stripey shirt is the winner. I like how simple it is…
Japanese bias-cut skirt…
Hmmm… Oh! This blows me away, but I also wore my crazy Japanese fabric a-line skirt TWICE this month! Let’s see which version is better…
This is probably partially how I’m standing, but I really like the look of the skirt with the denim jacket much better! You can see I yanked it up so it’s shorter – better! That, plus the scarf and cropped jacket make me look much less blocky than the photo on the left.
Semi finals!
Whew! Now that THAT’S out of the way, we can move on to the rest of the skirt-off. Here’s how it’ll go. I’ve split the outfits up into the following categories: Straight Skirts, A-Lines, Circle Skirts and Full Skirts. During the semi-finals I’ll pick the best of each category, then there’ll be a CHAMPIONSHIP that YOU will pick (OK, I’ve picked one too…) Perhaps I will only wear the winning skirt style for the month of June. Who knows? Let’s start with
Straight Skirts
Here’s what we have to choose from…
Whew! This is a hard category! This is my favorite skirt style, so it’s hard to choose. Surprisingly, I think I’m going to pick the orange skirt as #1. I’ve been planning on shortening this, but seeing it here I think it makes my legs look longer! I really like the buttoned cardi over tank to give me a waist. Runners up (in order) are the black and white polka dot ensemble in 2nd place, white skirt in third, stripey shirt in 4th and cherries in 5th place, although the cherries totally win for best hair day!
A-Line Skirts
This category is short and sweet. I’m not a fan of a-lines!
The Japanese bias cut skirt is the winner. I like my a-lines shorter, with a more pronounced ‘a’ shape. As I’ve said before ‘round these parts, it’s hard to get the A shape with hips like mine…
Circle Skirts
In this category are circle skirts and dresses. Most of these are full circles, although I think the knit dresses may be half or 3/4 circle skirts.
Hmmm… This is an interesting style. It’s one of my favorites when it comes to dresses, but it’s more problematic with skirts. Like the a-line skirt, I feel like the circle skirt just makes my hips look ginormous. I like wearing ‘em, though! They’re comfy in the summer. As for the winner, I’m torn between the Hawaiian print dress with the white cardi and the black dress. I think I’ll go with the print – I really am getting fond of the skinny belt over the cardi! So in order, first place Hawaiian print with white cardi, 2nd place black dress, third place green sweater and brown skirt, fourth place green and white dress (bad picture!) and fifth place denim jacket with brown skirt.
Full Skirts
The last category is a catch-all for all the other, fuller skirts that aren’t circles!
The first place in this group was a no-brainer. I love the crepe dress! Putting the rest in order was a bit more difficult. I love each outfit in this group for different reasons, but purely in the sense of what I think is the most flattering I think I’ll go with… 1st place crepe dress (upper right), 2nd place summer of 1995 dress (lower left), 3rd place blue tiered dress (lower right) 4th place all in white (upper left).
Championship
And now we come to the final round. I’ve picked the best of each style, now we’ll see which style is the best overall. Of course, at this level, they’re ALL the best, right? I’m sure there’s an applicable quote from Best in Show here, somewhere. Anyway, here are the contenders…
Alright tutu-wielding hounds, now it’s up to you. I realized when I was inserting the pictures that I can’t possibly choose. Your vote matters, so leave it in the comments… which style suits me best?
Write-ins not accepted…
Hard to choose, but I really love the orange pencil skirt on you!
Based purely on what I think suits/flatters you, I'd choose the orange ppencil skits and the black dress, hands down! I think the longer length makes your legs look longer and slimmer. 🙂
First: orange skirt! It makes you look so tall and slim!
Second: crepe dress.
Third: green print/white cardi.
Fourth: A-line.
Actually, when I looked at the top collage I picked out my 3 favorites right away before reading the rest of the post – and they all made the finals!
I know you prefer the shorter length skirts but looking at all the photos here I think the longer length flatters more. As for the championship its a tough call between the orange skirt and the crepe but I think ……… orange just by a whisker!
You've made really gorgeous outfits! Its fun seeing them all lined up. I think the more flattering of the finalist is the orange skirt : I love how it gives you a sexy slim and tall silouhette! Plus the color is so summery and vibrant!
The orange pencil skirt is the winner for me. I love the colour, the shape is flattering and, well, I just love it! That said, every one of your skirts looks wonderful to me!
Absolutely the orange pencil skirt! I picked that one out from the collage before I read the post! That slightly longer hem makes you look tall and is very slimming. Beautiful!
Definitely the orange pencil skirt. That longer length and pegged hem are great on you!
Orange skirt, hands down! It's a gorgeous combination and it looks wonderful on you.
The orange pencil skirt first, closely followed by the Crepe.
I think Id pick the orange pencil skirt too, though its an extremely close call with the green dress. Perhaps I'm just a sucker for the cardi!
Another for the orange pencil skirt outfit. It's somehow bubbly and elegant at the same time.
It looks like the orange skirt is the winner! It really looks fantastic on you. Second place is a tie between the green dress and the Crepe. However, with the cardi on top, it hard to tell if it's the skirt shape or the total outfit.
Going to chime in and say the pencil skirt gets my vote! 🙂 I mean–who could resist an orange pencil skirt?! It looks so beautiful on you too (yet another Patty outfit I want to steal! ;). I also like the third (floral) on and Crepe as well. But the pencil steals my heart! 🙂
Orange skirt. Hands down.
The orange pencil skirt and the crepe are both amazing on you but I'm going to have to go with the pencil skirt first and the crepe dress a very close second. The green dress is really lovely and the a-line looks comfy and casual, like a good weekend look.
Another vote for the orange skirt!
I love your brown circle skirt 🙂 What pattern did you use for it?
My eyes go right to the pencil skirt pic. Perhaps its the magic of the white cardi, but my #2 is the green dress, but I think the Crepe dress is equally flattering, it's just that skinny belt is the accessory that swings the other silhouette to me.. That pencil skirt is fantastic too, I love that the pattern seems subtle in a garment.
orange here too! makes you look vavavavoom!
Another vote for the orange pencil skirt. I'd picked it out as early as your opening montage.
My vote goes to the lovely orange pencil skirt. Followed a close second by crepe. g
Orange pencil skirt. Very slimming. I have a very similar build to you, so I'm anxiously awaiting your blog post on the makings of this skirt so I can whip one up for myself!
I'm also a fan of the skinny belt on top of cardis 🙂
#1 Orange pencil skirt, #2 Crepe dress
You're adorbs in ALL those pairings, tho. 🙂
The orange skirt and outfit was the clear winner from the very beginning. I have a very similar figure, and I find that dark-on-bottom-light-on-top color arrangement to be way more flattering than the reverse (I like the black pencil skirt outfits better than the white, but maybe if you wore the white with the horizontal striped top, or some other strong print to draw the eye up). Other key factors are the length of the skirt and the buttoning of the cardi for waist definition. Vavavoom!
Orange skirt! 🙂
but my favorite as far as fabrics go is the Japanese a-line, I just love those!!! and I do love it shortened a bit!
orange, and then japanese a-line – i think you look great with the length above the knees.
but i think my overall favorite look is the blue denim with striped top.
Oh,you are funny! Of the finalists, I think I have to go with the tropical dress with the cardi. I'm disappointed the lotus skirt didn't make it through, though. That one is ace. Your Crepe is gorgeous as well, but I think I like the bright tropical colours on you a bit better. 🙂
Well, this is interesting, isn't it. I scrolled down to post my favorite, then read the other posts. I chose…Orange, straight/pencil, below knee, with cardi. Dark on bottom, light on top. This is a classic look, no doubt and certainly a great look everyday, but a girl needs a little variety. In the circles I like the multi floral with white cardi, it looks so fresh and summery. However, the black LBD is also stunning. Great post by the way.
I picked the orange pencil skirt out of the line-up of all skirts before I read the rest of your post, and I stand by it–great silhouette for you, and in a lovely print like that one, it's polished and fun.
you crack me up…"In what is possibly my most narcissistic post yet" made me laugh out loud! i love love love that orange pencil skirt on you. fabulous!!
Along with nearly everyone else, the orange pencil skirt. But those circle-skirted dresses really make you curva-licious! (Note to self: sew some damn circle skirted dresses this summer!)
I love the trees and creatures pattern on the second "full skirt" dress. So pretty!
I'm really torn between the Crepe and the orange skirt… Both are beeeeautiful!
I love the orange skirt too. It looks great. The crepe, then green dress.
Orange skirt gets my vote…crepe dress is great, too! Really enjoy your blog…thanks for sharing your ideas and outfits.
I like the orange pencil skirt. It gives you a great slim appearance. Though not in the running, I equally like the black dress. It gives you a very nice silhouette.
Phew! Thanks for narrowing it down! The orange pencil skirt looks best on you, I think. Followed by the green, fuller skirt.
The crepe dress is adorable! I have to pick the orange skirt like everyone else though. The length and shape are really flattering. I actually like the circle skirts on you better than you seem to — I also have curvy hips and have been reluctant to make this style, but I think I'll give it a try now that I see how cute they are on you!
So, off topic, but…
I read your blog through Google Reader, and suddenly I'm getting someone else's blog posts through your feed. Someone named Tuttie who lives in Australia. I don't know. I don't know if it's something going on on your end or my end or Google's end, but it sure is weird! Thought maybe you'd want to look into it.
That orange number is a knock out!! Lovely!
I can't choose between the Crepe and the orange skirt. In fact seeing this picture of you in the Crepe has prompted me to go buy the pattern right now! -Sandy
For me, it's a toss up between the orange skirt (as many have said) and the tropical print dress with the white cardigan. The crepe is pretty, but I just think that the bright colors suit your personality more.
I'll go with the crepe dress. That's the only one where I agreed with you about which one was the best in it's category. How can you not love the black and white skirt with the rickrack? That looks fabulous on you! Also, any outfit with the red and white striped shirt is a winner. At least to me.
You look fab in all!!! I was torn between the orange skirt and Hawaiian print dress with cardi and belt , but I think I have to pick the dress. You look gorgeous in it and the colors are fabulous. You definitely need more skirts in the shape of the orange one b/c it lOoks so great on you!!
Hands down, it's the orange skirt!
The orange skirt is getting a lot of lurrrrve here too!