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Friday, April 15, 2016

The Feminine Differential - The Pencil Skirt

The Pencil Skirt

Perfect for: Formal to semi-formal office settings, cocktail parties and if you want to exude sex appeal without overdoing it. 

When it comes to fashion essentials there are few styles as put-together and feminine as the pencil skirt. They are polished, profession-looking, and wearable enough to go from  office to evening.  When I worked full time this was my "go to" look.   Maybe I was going for the Joan Holloway look on Madmen but to me nothing screamed femininity and curves better than the Pencil Skirt.   Here is a great description of the Pencil Skirt from HERInterest 

How to wear a Pencil Skirt

A pencil skirt is a thin, leg hugging skirt, that often has a slit, or pleat to allow a better range of movement. Created in the 1950’s by Christian Dior, the goal was a feminine body-hugging design. The original design often made women move quite a bit when they would walk, so over the years the skirts evolved to include a slit up the back or side to give some ease of movement. The goal was to draw attention to the hips, rather than the waist. This makes it an ideal skirt for any body type.

The pencil skirt acquired its name because it was a slim, form-fitting cut, created specifically to draw attention to the femininity of the woman wearing it. When worn below the knee, even with a slit or pleat, it can be hard to walk in, as it will be much more constricting than most other styles of skirts, but this is what makes it so feminine as it forces women to make smaller steps.

It often takes some practice to wear a pencil skirt due to the tight nature that restricts movements. This can make it difficult for a woman to get in and out of a car with grace. One advantage is that during cold weather, it’s warmer, and the wind is not able to lift it up and flash potential bystanders. (Think Marilyn Monroe!)

When you choose to wear a pencil skirt, make sure you go longer than the fingertips/knees for a more formal setting. Shorter pencil skirts can be worn casually, or for dates.  But traditionally the pencil skirt works in a business or formal setting because it covers all your parts while alluding to how feminine your figure is.


I love wearing a pencil skirt.  It can be the quintessential  women’s power suit.  I have all of the above skirts in the above fashion layouts and especially like the tan side button skirt on the left.  I also have the black leather skirt shown here on Angelina Jolie.


I guess what I like best about the pencil skirt other than its obvious feminine nature, is that it is flexible enough to team up with most types of tops and shoes.   You can also wear it with a basic tank top and a long cardigan for a cool and casual look - Or dress it up with a silk button down blouse.  It screams out to be accessorizedEven after choosing your top you still have room to play.  The purse, the shoes, and even a jacket can all work for the complete tailored, business look.  

It has (almost) everything you can ever wish in a skirt, and that's why I consider a pencil skirt to be one of your most important wardrobe essentials.   Try it! 

1 comment:

  1. Rhonda, I too love pencil skirts. I love the sliming look and how they restrict one's movement. I am not much of a mimi-skirt wearer so most of my pencil skirts are on the longer side. I have 2 Kasper ASL pencil skirts that are 27" in length (versus 24") and hit just right slightly below the knee. I love this look. I love a defined waist so I always wear my pencil skirts high waisted and always tuck in my blouse.

    - Christina Cross

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