Modest dressing mamas - please help!

[honey-lilac]

I am pretty new to this type of dressing, and I'm having a hard time. In the summer it's easy to find skirts that are fun, flattering, and cute. But now that it's getting colder, I have no idea where to find cold-weather skirts. (And it gets COLD here! : ) Any modest dressing sites I've found online were really, well... frumpy. Do any of you know any online sites where I could find stuff that doesn't make me look like a grandma but is still feminine and good for cold weather? I toyed with the idea of getting some of the pants-outfits Muslim women wear - I love how they look, but I think DH would freak out if I stood out so much from the norm. He's already iffy on me covering. And we're on a budget so expensive stuff is out. And although I can sew I prefer not to sew my own clothes. I know skirts are supposedly pretty easy but, I'd rather get something premade this season.

ETA: Normally I would shop at the thrift store but we're stuck home without a car for the next couple of months, so everything is being ordered online, including food and everything else. No trips to the city for thrift store runs.

[Tradd]

Land's End website. I'd get you the direct link to what I'm thinking of, but computer at work is acting strange.

Go under womens, then skirts, look for the Necessary Knits long skirts. Cotton blend that can be washed (hang dry). Super comfy - I live in mine. Not far above ankle length. Nice and flowy. Come in plus sizes, too.

Land's End also has had nice long corduroy skirts (I got one two years ago) in the winter, so keep an eye out.

Suggestion for winter, if you don't like tights - get a pair of capri-length silk underwear (I get mine from LL Bean). I wear trouser socks (like tights, but knee high length) with the capri silk underwear over them - I only buy black, since all my skirts/trouser socks/shoes are black. They don't stick out and you're warm AND comfy!

[Liquesce]

How long do you prefer your skirts to be? (Ankle length, below-the-knee, etc.)

[honey-lilac]

Those Land's End skirts look awesome - I especially like the reddish colored one!

Liquesce - I tend to prefer the ones that are to the mid-calf for the most part. And not too tight - we have baby gates to step over and I've halfway fallen over several times when my skirts didn't have enough room to step with. Amused the kiddies, though, to see mommy tumbling like that...

ETA: One like the Land's End would be great, I think I will order one. But I'd also like to find some that might be patterned as well, just for some visual interest... Or at least happy-colored! That's why I like the red one so much.

And another ETA: I've never worn tights before so I'm going to have to figure out what works.

[Liquesce]

Hannah Llise and New Creation Women's Apparel both carry skirts that I think on average height women should fall to about where you prefer or a little below. And thinking for winter, longer tends to be better ... there's less room for catching a cool breeze up underneath the material. New Creation does carry wool skirts ... they're not super heavy weight wool, but certainly warmer than a lot of the light, flowy summer skirts out there.

Personally I think siding towards longer is also better for winter because it's a lot easier to wear a pair of long johns or even sweat pants or such under a long skirt without it being visible. A perfect winter combo to me is a wool or denim skirt, long johns, and tall boots.

[honey-lilac]

Ooh, THANK you, I'm bookmarking those sites for some late-night shopping tonight! :

[Faliciagayle]

I also find that a slip is a MUST when I'm wearing tights or long johns under my winter skirts.

I second tall knee boots. Also looks cute with below the knee skirts in the fall during the transition to cooler weather.

Also try these sites:

http://www.bodenusa.com/

http://www.sundancecatalog.com

[Tradd]

Originally Posted by Kaleanani

Those Land's End skirts look awesome - I especially like the reddish colored one!

Liquesce - I tend to prefer the ones that are to the mid-calf for the most part. And not too tight - we have baby gates to step over and I've halfway fallen over several times when my skirts didn't have enough room to step with. Amused the kiddies, though, to see mommy tumbling like that...

ETA: One like the Land's End would be great, I think I will order one. But I'd also like to find some that might be patterned as well, just for some visual interest... Or at least happy-colored! That's why I like the red one so much.

And another ETA: I've never worn tights before so I'm going to have to figure out what works.

Here's a patterned one from Land's End - same as above, just patterned:

http://www.landsend.com/pp/PatternNe...2&origin=index

For the under the skirt problem in winter, here ya go:
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...tn&cat4=503056

Capri-length silk long underwear in black. I got one pair last year, and they're still in good shape. Wear black socks, knee highs, or trouser socks (tend to be more opaque). Wear capri long underwear over them. Long skirts, such as the Land's End ones, cover the capri long underwear just fine. I'm short - about 5'5" and the capri long underwear come several inches above my ankles. Comfy, warm, and you're not being cut in two by tights or pantyhose - or doing the contortion dance to get them on - which can take me 20 minutes!:

My "happy colors" go on top. I'm quite a minimalist/like things very simple, so all bottoms, shoes, and hose/socks are black. Tops are some shade of pink, purple, or blue, or maybe a combo with black. Makes my life in the mornings so much simpler, since all bottoms go with all tops!

[honey-lilac]

I will definitely check those links out too, keep them coming!

I'm backwards apparently - my tops are all black (or white for the summer) but I wear bright on the bottom. I tend to wear bright scarves too so I guess they even me out?

Keep the links and suggestions coming, these are great!

[smeisnotapirate]

I would browse around www.etsy.com as well. Lots of clever women sewing on that site.

I'm a big fan of layering as well. You layer on top, so why not on bottom? I'm known for layering a long jean skirt with a slit with a more billowy skirt underneath - get the warmth of 2 layers with the modesty of a skirt with no slit.

Also, look for corduroy. Great winter fabric. Just google corduroy skirts. I pretty much live in them in the winter.

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

Also, look for corduroy. Great winter fabric. Just google corduroy skirts. I pretty much live in them in the winter.

I can never seem to find heavier weight corduroy. I love it too, but all that I have functions just fine as summer-wear even.

[RainRaven]

http://www.ModestClothing.com/cgi-bin/group.pl?id=26
http://www.shukronline.com/womens-skirts.html ( my fave I wish I could afford them)
http://www.rebirthofchic.com/skirts?start=16

[smeisnotapirate]

Liquesce, I agree with you, actually. The corduroy skirts I have are high-end - Banana Republic and the like. I found a fantastic lined corduroy skirt at Goodwill once. It's pretty hit-and-miss as to whether you'll get the winter-weight. Oh, and LLBean also has winter-weight corduroy skirts too, in riding length. Not sure about floor length.

I will second Shukr. SUCH beautiful clothing. The skirts run long, though, so keep it in mind if you're short.

[weliveintheforest]

I have an interlock skirt and it's surprisingly warm in winter. I'd love to get some more from lands end.

[xekomaya]

nak

I just got a Morning Glory skirt in Afterglow from Patagonia - on sale for 30$ that is the most perfect comfortable calf length beauty. I'm in love.

In the winter though, maybe you want to wear ankle length? At least out doors. Layering a skirt over pants is very warm. I wear a lot of yoga pants -- I like the light weight ones from American Apparel.

I also like long denim skirts from Style J. The "vintage" one is the one I wear most often as it's sooo comfortable.

[DahliaRW]

I just wear cheap leggings and knee socks under skirts in the winter. Keeps my legs warm - even when I was in Alaska!

[Nim]

I just wanted to say thanks for asking OP! I'm bookmarking a couple sites too!

[honey-lilac]

I had a field day with this just now. I must have bookmarked at least three or four dozen choices that I have to narrow down from to two or three. Boo! I wish I could afford them all!

[Magelet]

Oooohh great thread, looking forward to reading it not so close to shabbat.

[lilyka]

check out gap and oldnavy. especially their online stores. They have cheap, cute long skirts, (ok they don't have any now but keep your eyes peeled)

also maxi dresses are great because they are supper long and flattering and while most of them have speghetti straps and low cut you could easily throw a sweater on over them. and then the top just gives you another under layer of warmness.

always a nice cute long skirt is to take and old pair of jeans and turn it into a skirk. you undo the inseam up to the zipper and quite a ways in the back and lay it flat. insert a triangle of fabric in the front and back to join the two legs and....I am sure there are instructions on line.....

also think layers. leggins are totally in right now and tall boots are always cute with the right skirt.