How to Wear Long Skirts

When designers like Versace and Dolce & Gabbana – both known for sexy short styles – embrace the longer skirt, you know it's here to stay for a while.

Hemlines have been creeping floor-ward for a while, first with the trendy print maxi dresses for daytime and now with longer skirts for fall.  And this is a trend that looks to continue because the Spring 2011runways from all over the world are full of longer skirt lengths.

All of this is great news for us over 40 girls who want to wear skirts, but hate the thought of wearing something too short.

If it's been a while since you donned a longer skirt, here's how to carry them off:

• Full and long. Be careful with vintage-y looking flare skirts that fall mid-calf or so. While it's precious on young girls, it can smack of frumpy on mid-lifers. If you do opt for the longer full skirts make sure there's plenty of waist definition (belted) and that the top is fairly fitted with a clean silhouette to let the skirt be in the spotlight. Ralph Lauren showed long, lightweight dark floral skirts for fall with a jacket: that's a look that would work for many women (pictured.)
• Pencil skirts. A slim, high-waisted skirt that falls below the knee is one of the chicest skirts you can wear. It looks great on hippier gals, and you can Spanx in a tummy to carry it off with curves. Try a pencil skirt in basic black paired with a blouse for the office; a black leather skirt or even a leopard print can be a fun alternative for after five. The pencil skirt needs a heel to look right, so don't wear this style with flats.
• Floor-grazing styles. One of my favorite looks from Spring 2011 was a floor-length olive colored straight skirt from Michael Kors. It's one of those pleated, slim skirts and it was shown all the way to the floor.  The only way to really pull off something that long is to choose a slim cut or it looks too voluminous.
• Slits. Think long skirts aren't sexy enough? Then you haven't seen the long, slim skirts that are slit to above the knee. Wrap styles and long slim skirts with slits are two ways to show a little skin without baring it all.