A pencil skirt is a straight, narrow skirt with a slim fit. The hem is usually cut for a snug fit and falls to or just below the knee. It gets its name from its shape, which is long and slender like a pencil.
How to Style a Pencil Skirt?
Pencil skirts have been a hallmark of women’s fashion since the early 1950s. All thanks to Christian Dior, who popularised the pencil skirt as a way to emphasize a woman’s inherent figure. Many designers claim it is the most flattering skirt available, and many women agree. Pencil skirts offer a timeless, sophisticated appeal, whether worn in the office or on a night out. It’s ultimately how you wear it and what you pair it with that ties the whole ensemble together. Let’s get started with five ways to wear a pencil skirt to work or out.
- For Going Out and Dressing to the Nines
- For Going Out in a Casual Setting
- For the Office
- From the Office to Happy Hour
What is the Best Body Type for a Pencil Skirt?
The pencil skirt is a figure-flattering skirt that can be worn by anyone. If you choose a pencil skirt with a few precise elements for your body type, it will flatter your figure. While one form may look great in a pencil skirt with a peplum, another figure may prefer a tapered hem. Knowing your body shape is an important component of looking smart and sophisticated while wearing pencil skirts. On an hourglass figure, pencil skirts look fantastic. A pencil skirt can highlight the well-proportioned proportions that a woman with a small waist has.
Apple Shapes
If you’re an apple shape, go for a wide waistband and avoid belt loops, pockets, or other features near the mid-section. If you’re a woman with a rounder frame, especially in the stomach, stay away from 3D details that draw attention to that area. With a wide waistline and materials that offer a little stretch and give around the middle, the pencil skirt may work for your frame by streamlining your curves. Wearing a pencil skirt with a side slit draws attention to your legs and away from your large waist.
Column Shape
Tapered pencil skirts are best for women with column shapes. Ladies who have a straight up and down or boyish shape can use a pencil skirt to create the illusion of curves by having it hug their frame. Seek out high-waisted styles with pleats on the hips. These are two details that emphasize the bust-line and hips. Peplums — a short flared section attached to the hip of the skirt — are another curve booster. Also, add a bit of bulk to your slender frame with thicker materials such as a nubby tweed in winter.
Hourglass Shape
On an hourglass figure, pencil skirts look fantastic. Curvy women with small waist have well-proportioned proportions that a pencil skirt can highlight. A pencil skirt should be chosen with a fit that follows the contours of the body without being too tight and hits at or below the navel to highlight a well-balanced shape. High-waisted skirts tend to draw attention to the bust, which isn’t necessary for hourglass forms. Extra elements to look for are a prominent waistline and darting for a thin fit from the waist to the hips.
Pear Shape
For pear shapes or ladies who are larger on the bottom, a pencil skirt should taper somewhat. Women with broader hips and thighs will appear square if they wear skirts that fall straight down. A pencil skirt, on the other hand, should not taper too much because it will attract too much attention to contours. For women with pear forms, finding a happy medium is crucial. It’s also vital to keep in mind that robust textiles, such as cotton or wool mixes, will hug the curves nicely. Tweeds, brocades, and heavy wools should be avoided since they add heft to curvy hips and thighs.
What Kind of Tops Go with Pencil Skirts?
You should realize that pencil skirts designs might be rather unique! In and of itself, the pencil skirt outfit is a pretty young and hip ensemble that you would want to wear! The beautiful thing about pencil skirts is that they can easily be transformed from office to evening wear simply by making minor adjustments to your attire. T-shirts, shirts, and blazers are all appropriate tops for formal pencil skirts. When it comes to tops to wear with pencil skirts, crop tops, peplum tops, and blazers are all excellent choices that complement the pencil skirt.
The pencil skirt and top are a perfect combination. A skirt with a shirt usually works, but a pencil skirt with a top, especially in the summer, is very effective.
Pencil skirt and crop top combination
Crop tops are defined by the skin reveal at the midriff region and offer a layer of fun and sexiness to your look. As a result, the pencil skirt and crop top are a fantastic match!
When you pair a plain white crop top with a body-hugging pencil skirt in black or grey, you’ll look both sensual and formal in a single outfit. Crop tops and high-waisted pencil skirts are almost always a safe bet, and you can always count on them. If in doubt, stick to monotone colors; however, you can also break the skirt and shirt combo by using contrasting colors in the top and bottom half. To be honest, the pencil skirt and top combo aren’t at all unusual and always look great.
Can you Wear a Pencil Skirt if you Have a Tummy?
Nothing shouts “Yes, I’m a woman” like a shapely pencil skirt that hugs your hips and bottom. If you want to enter a room and look and feel powerful, a pencil skirt can be your hidden weapon. Even if you have a softer, rounder, or more mature body type, you can wear a pencil skirt.
Start With Shapewear
A little shapewear goes a long way, whether you’re 1) very skinny but have a bit of a midlife middle, or 2) a round and voluptuous gal. Simply go out and buy some Spanx if you want to wear a top tucked into your pencil skirt. Shapewear has the same effect as a girdle but is as light as panti-hose. It tones your tummy while remaining extremely comfortable. It will have a significant impact.
Try a Wrap Top
A wrap top or a fitted top with some stretch and ruching works well to hide the tummy if you prefer to tuck it out.
Try A Sweater
If you’ve tried Spanx but still have a bit more belly bulge than you’d like, consider tucking in a vest or sweater. Then, on top, wear a large scarf, necklace, or earrings to bring attention to your face. Check to see if your sweater is in good shape. You’ll appear sloppy if it’s just huge and baggy. When wearing a pencil skirt, it should narrow in a bit to give you the waist definition that is so vital.
How Do you Wear a Short Pencil Skirt?
Determine the optimal pencil skirt length and, if required, get it reduced to that length. The most pleasing length is usually about the knee—a little above, a little below, or a little above. If knee-length skirts are too conservative for you, a mini-skirt may be the answer. However, petite women have short legs, and unless they’re very slim, a very short skirt can make a short woman appear wider while also emphasizing her shortness. A midi-length pencil skirt is also unflattering on a petite lady, leaving knee-length as the most flattering length.
The skirt should be fitted at the waist and hips but not too tight for a pencil skirt to look right. If your pencil skirt’s waistband digs into you, it’s too tight in the waist. It’s too tight if horizontal wrinkles emerge in the skirt across the hips when you stand up. The fit should be snug but not suffocating. You should be able to sit comfortably in the skirt as well.
Are Pencil Skirts Slimming?
A dark pencil skirt always seems slimmer than one that is light, colorful, or patterned. Vertical lines, such as stripes, a slit, or a long zipper, attract the eye up and down, making you appear long and lean.
How Do You Sit in a Pencil Skirt?
When it comes to the pencil skirt, the fit and length are the two most crucial factors to consider. When the hem of a pencil skirt stops around the knees, it is most flattering. It can be slightly higher or lower, but not lower.
The skirt should be fitted at the waist and fall just below the hips. It’s too tight if the waistband is a little too snug and making it tough to sit. Horizontal lines developing across the hip area are another telling indicator of a bad fit.
The skirt will gently follow your natural curves and be comfortable to move and sit in if you combine the proper length and fit. Make sure the length and fit are perfect for work so you can feel stylish and confident. You shouldn’t have to worry about your appearance at work because you should be focused on the task at hand.
NOTE: Most pencil skirts have a slit in the back that allows you to walk more freely and sit more comfortably. They can be found in the back, on the side, or in the front of the building. Because you’ll be wearing your pencil skirt dress to work, be aware of how high the slit is.
