Wednesday’s TPS Report: Tara Jarmon Knee-Length Skirt

76 Comments

1. Wow…I’m not feeling this one either. This week’s selections just aren’t doing it for me. :-(

2. Love that pockets are now the norm rather than the exception on clothing (A friend just bragged that her wedding dress even has pockets!), but not a fan of the weird pleating on this skirt.

   1. I love the idea in theory but in practice, I feel like pockets on a skirt/dress just make the item poof our right at my hips–where I don’t need any extra poofing out.

      1. This.

   2. I love that pockets in womens clothing is becoming more and more functional, as opposed to decorative. My male coworkers have actually found it fascinating when my female coworkers and I discussed the need for different types of bags for field visits and every day work. It never occurred to them that we literally can’t fit *anything* in pockets!

3. I actually think this is very cute, but it’s definitely not for the ample hipped like myself. I could see this looking wonderful on a different body type from mine.

4. Why would I want pockets in my skirt?

   1. for my cellphone

      1. And my ID, or some pocket money for a coffee run, or gum . . . or any number of other items. Why would you ever not want pockets on something?

   2. my office requires an id to get in and out of doors and to buy things in the cafeteria–pockets are a wonderful addition!

   3. Security badge for office buildings.
      Business cards.
      Tissues.
      Cough drop.
      Chap stick.
      Emergency candy.
      Nervous hands.

   4. I love that more designers are offering pockets in dresses and skirts. I always find when I’m wearing something that doesn’t have pockets, I’m always looking for one to put something in (key card, business card, debit card, chap stick, etc.) ;-)

   5. to put my hands in when i want to convey the “i’m listening but also relaxed” vibe.

   6. To add to the excellent list: tampons.

      1. great call. a few days ago I had to tuck my tampon into my bra strap (I was wearing a loose-fitting shirt) because I had no pockets and didn’t want to carry my purse to the bathroom.

         1. Tampon in bra (I opt for securing in the front middle rather than in a strap) — a regular monthly occurence in lawyergrrl land!

            1. This…so glad I’m not the only one strategically stashing tampons into my clothing each month :)

            2. ha, i usually shove mine into my waistband or yanking down my sleeve and shoving it up in there, clutching the bottom of the sleeve so it doesn’t fall out.

            3. Yep ,waistband or tucked into my sleeve or pashmina as I head out to the ladies room.

            4. LOL – I usually tuck it into my sleeve or my knee-high trouser socks.

            5. Glad it’s not just me! Hide one in a waist-band at least once a month.

         2. I also always hide my tampon up my sleeve.

            1. If you use OB, you can just palm it.

            2. I am loving all these ideas- I am a waistband tucker myself. Ru, the trouser sock idea is fab!

               a — what if you run into someone on the way to the ladies and have to stop and chat (or heaven forbid they hand you something)? I know firsthand that the men in my office pay attention to who is carrying a purse to the bathroom, much less anything more dramatic…

   7. For ten years I had a medical device that I had to carry in a pocket or clip to my belt. It was the size of a large cell phone, and very ugly when clipped to my belt. I was always on the hunt for skirts with pockets, but found very few, and even fewer suit skirts with pockets. I wore mostly pants for that decade. I would’ve loved this skirt. Now that I don’t have that medical device anymore, I’m thrilled to be able to buy any pants or skirt that I want without having to do a pocket reconnaissance first.

   8. Cold hands, tampons, building ID, change for the Coke machine.

5. Too short.

   1. I don’t think it’s too short as pictured. At 5’4, it would definitely not be too short on me. I think right above the knee is just fine, and I have relatively conservative tastes otherwise.

   2. seriously?

      1. What do you mean? I do think it’s too short for work if it is the same length on you as it is on the model. The website doesn’t have a measurement, which is annoying. I like it when they tell you how long the skirt is.

   3. Knee-length is too short? Do you work in a monastery?

      1. This skirt isn’t knee-length on the model, it’s above the knee. To me “knee-length” means it hits right at the middle of the kneecap, otherwise it is above the knee, then if shorter it’s a mini, etc.

         Maybe we have different takes on what “knee-length” is?

         1. I’m most comfortable in skirts that hit right at the middle of the kneecap, but I wouldn’t find someone in a skirt hitting right at the top of the kneecap to be at all office inappropriate. More than 1-2 inches above the kneecap and I start to take a second look…

         2. I think for most people, if the hem touches the knee (top of the knee, middle of the knee, bottom of the knee) it is considered knee length. I would absolutely call this “knee length,” and I find that skirts that hit the mniddle of my knee cap make my relatively short legs looks absolutely dumpy. Top of the knee is the most flattering of the knee length varieties on me.

            1. Aha! Makes sense. To me (I am tall) this is a little above the knee, and I wouldn’t wear it too the office, too much leg flashing when I am sitting down. My area is pretty conservative in terms of skirt length. :)

      2. I work in a pretty conservative office and try not to show knee cap unless I have on opaque hose. And no, I’m not a nun.

         1. I was taught growing up that a skirt is “knee length” if, when you kneel on the floor (with thighs at 90 degree angle to floor so your thighs and torso are straight up, as they’d be when you are standing), your skirt hem brushes against the floor. If it doesn’t touch the floor, it is above the knee.

            Did anyone else get this growing up?

            1. I’ve heard that as a standard for school dress codes, but never as part of the definition of “knee length” per se.

            2. Interesting test, thanks! :)

            3. That use to be the standard Catholic school test on girl’s skirts. My Catholic school girl days are long behind me, so I don’t know if it is still used.

            4. I went through that Catholic girl school test every day in high school, seems like. The trick was to blouse your shirt and unzip the skirt a tad so you could gain an extra inch. :)

            5. Only had to do that once at my Catholic high school-sans-uniforms, but alas it was the ’80s and I was wearing one of those newfangled miniskirts. They had just come back into style-I had to (illegally) wear them to school!

      3. Yes, this. I work in a monastery. ::eyerolls::

         I was just making a comment about the length for me personally. I am very tall and on me this would be inappropriate. If you are shorter, younger, or less nun-like than me, feel free to rock it to work. It is a cute skirt otherwise.

         1. so if you’re an admitted outlier, why make the critical comment?

            1. Why shouldn’t she?

            2. @A — because context really is helpful in judging whether criticism would apply to the person reading your comment. Did dw think that a skirt that hits a person’s leg just above the knee is always inappropriate? Or would the featured skirt be inappropriate on dw because her legs are longer than the model’s?

6. Business cards for a networking function, debit card if I am just running out for coffee, office key if I am just running to my car, etc.

   1. I posted this as a reply to Kaydee. Not sure why it showed up here.

7. Pockets can create extra volume where my hips supply plenty of volume on their own.

   1. agreed. I tend to have skirts and pants pockets sewn shut to avoid this. no reason to add volume or draw attention hips.

8. I really like this–it’s sort of a less exagerated take on the tulip skirt (which I also love, but sometimes comes off as too trendy).

9. Skirt pockets are really cute, don’t knock them. I have several skirts in this general style – black, navy, and gray. I think they are very flattering but I like them to be a bit longer than the one shown here. I wear them with tights and flats.

10. Anyone else feel like (a) the model’s arms were photoshopped and (b) she looks like she is about to tip over, given her awkward pose and that her right foot doesn’t actually seem to be inside the shoe properly?

11. The photo of the skirt from the rear shows some very unattractive — and unprofessional — puckering.

    No thanks!

    1. I love this from the front, but I agree – the back looked awful. Pass.

       1. definitely, from the rear it looks like one of the back panels was misaligned and it’s all puckered along the seam; the other panel is totally smooth so it really looks like a cheap mistake. Too bad, the front was pretty, I thought.

12. I do like this skirt. I wish it came in some additional colors.

13. Corporettes, I could use some moral support.

    Yesterday I ran in and lost an election for the board of one of the largest student organizations on campus, which I have been actively involved in since the start of my freshman year. Those elected are younger and less experienced than I, who have previous experience in leadership positions and a strong working relationship with the university staff we’d be responsible to. I believe that the students chosen are good candidates — it’s just that I know that I was one as well! I know that I blundered my speech a little ( poorly worded criticism sounded more like an insult) and that I was likely to lose a popularity contest, but that’s not much comfort.

    I graduate in March, which is both a positive and a negative. It means I get to move on pretty soon from this disappointment, but it also means my legacy here now feels faintly tinged with failure. How do I keep my chin up for the next six months and continue working in the organization with grace and professionalism?

    (In the immediate sense, how do I keep my spirits from crashing? I have painted my nails a fabulous color today, but it’s not a whole lot of solace. :( )

    1. :( I’m sorry. I’ve absolutely been in your position. A few years ago, I lost the senior editor positions on my school’s journal in similar circumstances and felt crushed. I’d put in tons of hours of effort to win and then lost to someone much less qualified (on paper, at least).
       I don’t have any advice on working with the organization after that point–I wouldn’t consider my actions admirable, but I found other places to volunteer my time and effort until I graduated where I felt that I was more appreciated. Spending more time there would force me to revisit losing the election on a regular basis rather than pick up the pieces and move on.
       Hang in there!

       1. I’ve been there too! And like LawyrChk, I found other places to volunteer and spend my time. Not because I wanted to “punish” the first organization for rejecting me, but because it just would have been too painful for me at the time to stay there. I made some amazing friends through the new organization, friends which I still have today (more than 10 years later), and while it took a while for the sting of rejection from the first place to calm down, I did eventually get over it, and was soon very grateful to be trying something new.

          Re: keeping your spirits up, just know that will happen in due time. Don’t force yourself to feel anything you don’t feel, and be sure to be kind and gentle to yourself. *Big hugs* to you today! :)

    2. This is a good situation to apply the 1, 5 and 10 year rule to: in 1, 5, or 10 years, will it matter that this happened?

       95 percent of the time, the answer is no. Very little happens in day-to-day life that has a lasting impact over the span of a career (or a lifetime). You may always look back and feel disappointed that it didn’t work out the way you wanted it to. But in terms of real, lasting effect on your life – your career, your family, your satisfaction, your happiness – things like this only stay with us if we allow them to.

       And I apologize if this sounds patronizing. But things that happen in college have very little resonance once everyone graduates and moves into the business world. I was involved in a college brouhaha where as the editor of the college paper, I criticized the student body president in an editorial, and in retaliation he tried to shut the paper down by canceling our funding. It didn’t work but the ensuing chaos was a big distraction for a few weeks. 15+ years later I don’t even remember the guy’s name, much less see any lasting repercussions of that incident. I moved to a completely different city after college and no one even knows about it.

       You’re young, and when you’re young, everything seems really immediate and up-close and things seem like they are much more serious than they probably are. As you get older, you realize very few screw-ups are actually severe enough to follow people around. Look at it this way: there are people who worked for Enron at high levels, who were involved in the day-to-day malfeasance and fraud and participated in one of the biggest corporate meltdowns in history, that are out there working, doing something now. If people can survive being involved with that level of disaster and still get hired somewhere, they can survive anything.

       I know it feels awful right now and you do need to do some nice things for yourself so you don’t brood about it too much. It’s the same with a breakup – give yourself time to mope, but cut it off sooner rather than later, square your shoulders and stand up straight, and get back out there doing something you care about. There are all kinds of ways to be involved in your campus other than this board, I’m sure, and once you pick something else and get involved with that, you’ll feel better. I am sure any group would be grateful to have someone who is as committed and motivated as you seem to be. Good luck.

    3. I wouldn’t stress about it or feel too let down. From what you’ve said, chances are the people voting wanted someone who could devote more than just 6 months to the position. You might very well have been the “best” candidate in every other sense, but often times the possibility of stability trumps other qualifications. It sounds like you just need to treat yourself to a nice meal or do something fun to make yourself feel better!

    4. Disappointments like these are always so difficult, especially when they are fresh! The best thing to do now is to be outwardly graceful, calm, and professional about the entire situation. Personally, I would be more likely to positively remember someone who handled a defeat well than the actual winner.

       What I have also learned, while being outwardly calm, give yourself some space to privately get mad, grieve, and rant. As long as it doesn’t go on too long, you will feel better for having expressed your disappointment and will move on more quickly.

       I’m sorry this happened, but at the risk of being trite, your efforts and results you did achieve are more than most of us, and you should be proud.

    5. I have a good friend who recently lost an election, and in the few short weeks since the election, he has managed to win over even the people who supported his opponent by (1) actively supporting his opponent (I know it’s not applicable in this case – but you can find some other way to show your support to the person who won — volunteer to chair some major project, for example); (2) really sincerely thanking his supporters; and (3) immediately getting involved in other things. Of course you are disappointed, but you can completely save face — and even gain new support — by being extremely gracious in the wake of your defeat. Congrats for running, by the way — I know it’s a lot to stick your neck out there. Chin up now – get busy showing folks with your grace that you really WERE the better candidate!

    6. What I wonder is if your imminent graduation could be a reason for why someone younger and less experienced would get more votes (probably in addition to your verbal “ouch”)? If you’re already seen as being on the way out of the place, but the others are likely to stay around for longer and build the organization, it may have had impact on the voting.

       There are two ways to go – be a gracious loser, and offer whatever help, and contacts you can to the winner – so the organization won’t suffer, or withdraw entirely and focus on something else for the last semester.

14. Write a letter of congratulation to your opponent. Promise to help with the organization, voulunteer to head an important committee. You will feel better when you do those things.

15. OK, still haven’t heard back from job prospect… I was told they were likely to make a decision by Oct 4; when is it appropriate for me to follow-up? You all are so good about these things…

    1. I’d follow up on Friday morning, that seems like a fair amount of time. Do it in the morning though, Friday afternoon email always seems to slip through the cracks for me

    2. Friday morning or Monday morning would work. I prefer Monday because sometimes on Friday people will delay and then by Monday the e-mail is towards the bottom of their mailbox. That also gives them a full week, the phrase “likely to make a decision” is a bit loose, and we all know these things always take longer than expected.

    3. I’d say wait a couple more days, Angie. I know you’re dying to know, but I’ve found that usually contacting them doesn’t help (if they don’t want to tell you yet, they won’t).

       1. huh, i actually swing the other way. i’d follow-up this afternoon or tomorrow: if they’re still deciding, an expression of strong interest from you could tip the balance in your favor. if they told you oct. 4, you’re not a noodge if you do it 3 days later, at the end of that week.

          my 2 cents.

          1. Thanks ladies. I know I should be a bit more patient, but each week that goes by is a week closer to my due date – and 6 week leave. Although I am amazed at what a non-issue my pregnancy *seems* to be.

          2. This. Something quick. It will help boost you in their consideration.

16. I like this, it would be a good choice on days that I want to look professional but not too formal. Looked closely at the back, I like the gathers at the waist, hope the seem puckers are really just the photograph. Well done pockets are wonderful, then I can clip my ID badge inside my pocket and not wear that horrible, 10 year old photo!

    Skirt is not in my size, though….

17. I’m really liking this skirt. Sleek but forgiving enough to hide less than perfect tummies.

18. This is “Unemployed” from the other day. I was laid off last Friday, and started submitting resumes and calling around Monday (thanks to the Corporetters who motivated me to hit the ground running). By some miracle, I was asked to interview today at a firm and they offered me the job an hour later!!

    What a whirlwind of a week.

    It’s funny because everyone’s been right about finding something I’ll enjoy more. My new position is more of what I had in mind when I graduated college. I’ll be out of the office more and in a more social-type position. My first job was 2 years in a cubicle, and I’m naturally a hermit crab if I’m alone for too long.

    Little Lurker: It seems like we are in the same boat. I hope something new comes along for you too! Somewhere else to put all that energy!

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