The Midi Makes a Comeback

I knew it was coming, but now that it has leaped off the runways and on to the red carpet, it is still going to take some getting used to. The midi – or mid-calf length dress – is back in fashion. 

Of course, the funny thing about the midi – and other resurrected trends like fanny packs and wide-leg jeans – is that there are still plenty of women who are wearing it from the first time around.  Women our age – and older – have clung to the midi dress because it's the one dress length we know will offer modesty for everything from work to church.

So what's new about the midi now? The latest incarnation of the midi is sleek and even when it's a fuller skirt (like pictured on Jennifer Lawrence) it has controlled fullness. Some of the sexiest midis are form-fitting knit dresses that go to mid-calf (Christine Baranski rocked one not long ago). I don't even want to think about the Spanx required to pull that off.

While many of us have begged for reasonable hemlines over the years, I still think that midis can be challenging for women over a certain age to pull off. For one thing, it visually cuts your leg in half, which – regardless of your height – is not flattering. And petite women can look overwhelmed by fabric in anything below the knee. The mid-calf skirt length is also considered matronly (much like tweed suits) so it can also make you look older if you are worrying about that.

If you are going to try the new midi (or pull something from your closet that resembles it) try these tips:

• Keep the silhouette slim by belting at the waist (especially if your skirt is full.)
• Extend your leg line with high heels and (in winter) tights to match.
• Choose lightweight fabrics that flow (like Nicole Kidman's dress, above.)

More about new trends for grown-ups:

• 11 New Looks to Try in '11
• Florals for Grown-ups
• 8 Middle-Age Fashion Icons (Steal Their Style)