Stop the shifting skirt
August 14th, 2008My skirts fit well when I’m standing still, but they shift around when I move. I end up with the front somewhere on my side after a minute of walking. It drives me batty. I’m constantly pulling skirts back into position. Once my ensemble is on, I don’t like to fuss with it.
The penny dropped when I realized my high-waisted skirts stay put. Their waistbands lie on my natural waist above my navel. I promptly took my skirts for alteration. I had their waistbands taken in, which moved the position of the waistband higher. The end result was fuller coverage and a snugger fit around the waist and tummy area. It worked like a charm.
The alteration costs about $15, which I found well worth the price. Your mileage may vary – the higher waist is a different style and not for everyone or every skirt. Also, beware of losing length. This alteration shortens a skirt by one or two inches, so make sure you have length to play with before you move up the waistband.
Do you battle with shifting skirts? Any other tips on how we can prevent this phenomenon?
Left: Skirts with lower waistbands like these tend to shift when I walk. I found that the silhouette of the skirt makes little difference (pencils and A-line styles both shift).
Right: Higher waistbands like these shift to a lesser extent. I tend to prefer skirts with higher waistbands because I find them more comfortable (whether I tuck in my top or leave it out).
August 14th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Hmm, I certainly do battle with skirt shifting. And I also prefer natural waisted skirts, not that I have worn many for a few years. But I seem to remember that they shifted as well!
August 14th, 2008 at 7:44 am
My skirts shift when I’m carrying a shoulder bag. The bag touching the top of skirt causes it to start rotating around my waist. I notice that I never have this problem when I’m not carrying a bag, even if wearing the same skirt.
August 14th, 2008 at 8:34 am
I have a problem with shifting with the high-waisted skirt that I have on today. Even with a belt on, it doesn’t stop.
August 14th, 2008 at 8:51 am
I wonder if it has something to do with how we walk, and what we carry when we walk. I say this because I carry a messenger bag with my laptop in it quite a bit, and it never fails to push my skirt around on my waist. I notice the skirt shifting less when I don’t carry the bag. Has anyone else noticed this?
August 14th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I have this problem as well with one of my skirts. Besides shifting around, it also rides up on me, and usually ends up at my natural waist anyway. But as you said, that just made it too short. So it’s sitting in my closet with no place to go. I should probably just get rid of it, but I really like it and find it hard to part with, even though I know it will never work.
I have the shifting problem with a few other skirts, though at least they don’t ride up. But if I took them to my natural waist, they would be too short and since I am short waisted, I look silly in high-waisted skirts.
I don’t understand how this solution can work without intentionally getting a skirt that’s too long. Maybe the 1-2 inches is a bigger problem for me since I’m petite and have less leg length to spare…
August 14th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Hmm, I have the opposite problem. On me, the higher the waist, the more fussing I have to do to keep it on straight.
Jenn - absolutely. When I carried a messenger bag in college, I all but gave up daily skirt wearing because I was so unbelievably annoyed that I would have to readjust my skirt every couple steps.
August 14th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Timely post! My favorite pencil skirt does this and I was hoping for a remedy. Thank you!
August 14th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I am so relieved to hear that this happens to other folks - especially folks fitter than myself. I assumed my skirts weren’t fitting properly due to a deeply annoying little spare tire around my middle. Is my happiness that this happens to someone as slim as Angie a sign of inner evil?
I am wearing a high-waisted skirt today and it has stayed miraculously in place all day. I haven’t been carrying my bag which, as some ladies have pointed out, aggravates the shifting problem. But I agree that a higher waistline does help.
However, with my body type, a lower waist is sometimes helpful. The high waist is cute, but does nothing to mask my tummy. A lower rise creates a cleaner line on me.
So I’ll just have to hang onto both! If anyone has other tips to slow the shift, I’d love to hear them …
August 14th, 2008 at 11:35 am
A rather extreme idea. I’ve not tried this but read somewhere once on uses of puffy paint ( you get it in craft stores, paint on and heat with a heat gun or hair dryer) that you can put it on the inside of waistbands to hold in tucked blouses. I wonder if it wouldn’t help the shifting problem too. The paint dries puffed and rubbery. Another use was to paint it in patterns on the bottoms of socks to keep them from slipping on floors.
August 14th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I have this problem with jean skirts too. It’s annoying but I have just learned to live with it.
August 14th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
This is actually one of the reasons I stopped wearing the skirts I have and stopped buying skirts! Mine always rise up on my belly and then twist, making them doubly annoying.
August 14th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I also have one or two skirts that tend to shift on me–especially when I am carrying one of my larger shoulder bags. When I first bought them I had no problem–they did not shift and the waistband was at my natural waist. But since I have lost weight, they are looser and sit below my waist. I guess it’s time to take them in!
August 14th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Two words — Fashion Tape. It’s works I use it on a lot of my vest armholes and dresses to stick my bra straps to the piece of clothing i’m wearing so the bra straps won’t show. I hate when the tops or dress shift and expose my bra straps.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
oh becareful though if you’re allergic to adhesive i usually try to keep clothes to clothes with it.
August 14th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
We all seem to experience a version of the same skirt-shifting thing. Makes frocks an instantly better option! I suspect that the way we walk and what we carry plays a role.
Adiel, is your skirt too big?
Maya, so far I have not needed to get an intentionally longer skirt for this alteration and I am 5ft 6. But skirts are shorter this season and losing two inches can make a big difference.
Sal, you crack me up. Masking that little extra around the middle can work with a higher waist if it acts as a girdle and you wear tops un-tucked.
Joy, you are creative. Let us know if your lateral idea works.
Alisha, I’ve tried fashion tape and was unsuccessful. Also I have to watch my eczema prone skin. I hope you have better luck.
August 14th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I’ve never had this problem, but I’m guessing it’s because I have an odd-shaped body or something.
August 14th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
That is exactly why i perfer wearing dresses instead of skirts. I hate having to fuss with an outfit once it’s on.
I do however, love the look of a highwaisted skirt and have purchased a few. I’ve been belting them and that seems to help keep them in place.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:36 am
My mother had trouble with her skirts and pants falling down, so she made garter-like things (out of those things some people use to hold fitted sheets to the bed) to attach the top of her bottoms to the bottom of her bra. She does wear her shirts untucked. I wonder if this sort of thing would help with the shifting, too.