Three DSQUARED2 dresses crossed my desk recently, all hemmed to hit at the knee and all tailored to flatter the female form (nipped at the waist, sheath-like at the skirt). They reminded me why I’m not really a mini kind of girl. Demure but not staid, a knee-length dress cut just so has an easy elegance, and the silhouette is right in line with fall’s return to sophistication. From Black Halo to Vena Cava to Diane von Furstenberg (of course), designers are offering up some seriously smart frocks.

How to find the right one for you? Try out a few different lengths—above the knee, at the knee, and just below the knee—to figure out which is most flattering on your body. I’ve found dresses that hit just above or at the middle of the kneecap fit me best. Anything longer, and I look about 5 inches shorter than I am.

When you find the length that works for you, I’d love to hear about it!

--Amie