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Ask the Image Expert Sherry Maysonave is the founder and president of Empowerment Enterprises, one of America's leading communication-image firms. Sherry conducts corporate seminars and coaches executives, professionals, and politicians in achieving excellence in communication and image. She is also the author of Casual Power: How to Power Up your Nonverbal Communication and Dress Down for Success
Skirt LengthQuestion: I like corporate power dressing but I insist on my very short skirt with a Com bination of corporate jacket (blazer) of course. I am 30 and I like short skirt because I do have nice legs. The length is 16 inches from normal waistline. Is that fine at work place or should I change? I work in the sales and marketing field and guys stare at me looking at me with a very short skirt. I use hosiery + 3 inches high heel shoes.Nica Answer: Indeed, having great-looking legs is a figure asset for any woman. Nonetheless, you are at risk of not being taken seriously by your cohorts and superiors when wearing ultra short skirts, such as you describe. If you are short waisted with long legs, a sixteen-inch length is nearing the mini-skirt range. In most cases, when measuring from a normal waistline, a sixteen-inch length is considered too short for a business environment as the hem hits somewhere in the mid-to-upper thigh area. Even worn with a tailored jacket, that length that is not businesslike. Since you have good legs, a sixteen-inch skirt is better suited for dating or for social occasions. Marketing departments often allow for a more creative look, but length issues remain the same as for other fields. While you certainly want to be attractive, it’s important in sales to also appear approachable and as an expert on your products. Keep in mind that some guys look and stare at almost anything female, but shapely legs, breasts, buttocks, bare skin, etc. especially catch the eyes of healthy males. While it’s fun to get admiring glances, do you think they are thinking of you… as a person…as a smart woman? The Wharton School of Business, one of the most prestigious business schools in the U.S., claims that a short skirt is considered professional if it’s no more than three inches above the knee and its worn with hosiery. In my opinion, young women with trim shapely legs can go up to 4” above the knee, if they also wear hosiery. Beyond that, you are clearly out of the professional range. What are your goals? Where do you want to be five years from now? If you want to get a “leg up” in your career, I strongly recommend that you lengthen your business-wear skirts to 4” above the top of your knee (measure up from just above the top knee bone), and that’s pushing the envelope in many companies. I’ll bet the bank that you continue to get a lot of attention when wearing that length. Outside the workplace, when you’re going out or attending social events, wear your skirts as short as you want.
Best of luck to you,
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