ir, I totaly agree with you.
SJS and so right, I’m 5’3 and would look atrocias in skirts that are 4″ below the knee. My skirts are 2.5″-3″ inches from under the cap of my knee. Total skirt legnth is 25.5″-26″ from the waist. Now since such a length does NOT COVER THE KNEE when wearing a straight skirt, I don’t wear straight skirts unless it has pleat(s) starting from the hip area. I generally wear a-line skirts. I do wear a straight skirt if it is loose enough – in other words a semi straight skirt that has enough fabric to cover the knee when sitting (I try it out to make sure it’s fine).
Also, I don’t buy gathered skirts as it becomes a balloon in the wind and uncovers the knee. I try on the skirts in a sitting position too, before I wear them, to make sure it sufficiently covers the knee.
So here’s my take on this issue. Rulers are important, but so is common sense.
It’s not just the clothing that needs to be tzniusdig, but the actions of a woman need to be tzniusdig as well. In other words, if the penimius is b’tznius, then you automatically know how to look b’tznius even if you enjoy being fashionable.