I have always loved pencil skirts, but I do have a question about your pear tip Angie. When I wear a straight-ish skirt, I end up looking very boxy, due to my not-waist. I suppose the trick would be to wear a shrug or something that would bulk up my shoulder line?

Oh thank heavens, it’s about time!

I think there’s nothing better than pencil skirts–they are so versatile, IMHO. They relate well to all my professional gear, but can also be dressed down for casual play or a bit tarted up for a more flirty adventure.

I’ve had a ton of difficulty finding good ones the past few years &all the ones I’ve found have eventually died, so I’m glad to hear they’ll be out there this season…I sense a shopping trip in my near future!

Love the look but will have to sit this one out. I think rectangles in pencil skirts can look like an inverted triangle. That was DH’s comment the last time I sported one. The rest of you, enjoy!

I am happy to report I have the JCrew cord one in gray in the mail on the way to me! I love how they look and I am one of the naughty librarian wanna bees.

I have a pretty casual lifestyle and think it will work hard in my wardrobe.

Taffy, I forgot to mention that pretty pears will need to have their waistbands altered to fit – this will eliminate your lack of waist challenge. Make sure the skirt falls ON the waistline when you alter it. Actually, the trick to the top half is to keep it super fitted (you HAVE to define your waist), and add vertical detailing, like a long necklace, princess lines or ruched sleeve crowns. Experiment on the forum and well help you out.

I’m with you, Charlie! I adore pencil skirts. It’s my favourite skirt silhouette. I’m stocking up on pencil skirts this season.

Kellygirl, I’ll debate this one with you. I pop plenty of rectangles in the right pencil skirts. They look KILLER. Look at how Patience rocks a pencil skirt!

Patience sure doesn’t look like a rectangle! I thought she was hourglass. Okay, Angie, I concede. I may have to give this look a second chance

I love pencil skirts, they are by far my favorite skirt shape! Unfortunately, I can not wear them to my workplace, because they are both too constricting and too dressy (even denim/cord types). But I try to use ( almost) every opportunity to wear them outside of work. Thanks for the mention Angie.

For some reason, straight ones look really bad on me, like a box ( and it doesn’t help that make my skinny calves look even skinnier). Even though I have curvy hips, tapered styles look much better on. Who would say…

Express currently has a really gorgeous black one with a vertical ruffle that I am trying to resist since I know it would get worn 2-3 times only because of the lack of opportunities. But I may succumb to the temptation anyway

I love pencil skirts. They create curves for me and are easy to wear. I love the classic look fo them and that you can wear pretty much anything on top. I already have a Gap denim one which I wear all the time. I’m shopping this week for boots and I think I’ll have to pick up another pencil skirt to go with them since most of mine still don’t fit post-baby.

Pencil skirts have to be my all time favorite skirt! As an hour-glass with small curves tending toward inverted triangle, I can’t resist tapered pencil skirts to add some curves at my hips. Almost every skirt I have is a pencil skirt, now that I’ve gotten rid of some of my old ones. I do have one question: can a tailor make a boxy pencil skirt tapered? It sounds like a major operation to me, but it might be worth a try on one of my favorite skirts. I’m having on to because I love the color but the boxieness, not so much.

Grr…don’t tease me! I absolutely adore pencil skirts, but sadly cannot wear them.

I’m chuffed.

Shell, I’d think you could pull of a pencil skirt with the best of us. I’d like to see an example of why you don’t think you can.

I like pencil skirts and straight skirts best on me. Maybe it’s just because that is what I’m used to seeing myself in. Thanks Angie, for bringing the little people into your blog!

I have the same problem as some previous comments about pencil skirts making me look like a box. Maybe I should try on some tapered ones to see if they look better? I always thought tapered pencil skirts only looked good on very thin women, which I am not, so I have stayed away from them.

As a pretty pear, I give high marks to the J Crew One in the middle. Normally, pencil skirts are a definite “no” on my very curvy bottom half (28″ low waist, 38″ hips), but this one rocks! It is generously full in the hip and is a very sustantial fabric that does not look bulky, but hides flaws.

nicole, i think they make me look like an ice cream cone.

I love pencil skirts, just bought three this fall. Two from Marc by Marc Jacobs, and one in an eco fabric from an independent Vancouver designer, it has a great asymmetrical squared ruffle detail. It’s an olive drab, have to figure out what other colors to wear with it besides black.

i just bought a pencil skirt at boden. who knew i was ahead of the curve!

I’m in heaven! Pencil skirts have been a wardrobe staple for me for eons, and I love wearing them with both casual and dressy looks. Banana Republic makes my faves, in stretch twill preferably, though the aren’t always in stock. Now, for instance. Sniffle.

Pencil skirts are my favorite too! I have 6 now– 2 for spring, two denim, and two for fall, including the one in the middle in black. I know I am going to be wearing it all the time this season. Like Tanya they are an easy temptation for me. Thanks, Angie.

What about finding the right length for these? I am mid fifties, 5′10″ and full figured. With my long legs, and when younger, shortish pencil skirts worked great on me. Now, although I want to dress FUN I think longer is more suitable, like a few inches below my knee. Tips?

Kellygirl: I am also a rectangle and I love pencil skirts. They key is finding the right one…I love this look and if I were to establish a uniform, pencil skirts would be in the mix. Always looking for the next perfect pencil!

Get out, Kyle! I thought you were an hourglass for sure! I was thinking about my last pencil skirt-like attempt and I think my problem was not defining my waist. It was a low waisted denim skirt and I just wore a low slung belt with a tucked in button down. I honestly didn’t think it looked that bad but DH gave me “the look” so I knew it didn’t work. I photographed the outfit–I may post it next week titled “how not to sport a pencil.”

ok. I have no waistline. I also have a bit of a wider upper body than hips.
I’ve tried this skirt – back in the early 90’s – and never could find a good fit. Either too tight in the waist or too baggy elsewhere.

Anyone know where I can find a good petite one for a short person?

Maybe those low-rise designs would be a bit wider? Since I am so short, it would ride higher on me.

I’d be interested.

Pencil skirts are one of my very favorite skirt silhouettes. Thanks Angie, for the shout out and the great post!

Great Kellygirl! I look forward to seeing you in a pencil skirt that accentuates your curves and defines your waist. I have no doubt you’ll look fab. Have it altered if you need to.

Tanya, tapered pencil skirts look a lot better on me too. Gives me a bit of curve! The Express asymmetrical ruffle skirt you’re referring to is beautiful. It looks designer and is flawlessly made.

Absolutely, Sarah. A boxy pencil skirt can be successfully tailored.

Shell, I challenge you to find a fab pencil skirt. It can be done. No ice-cream cones on my computer screen!

Joelle, you’re also looking for waist definition – a skirt that sits on your natural waist.

Katie and Johanna, post your questions on the forum and we’ll help you out.

Angie,

How do you feel about inverted triangle types in pencil skirts? I love the pencil skirt style and have been waiting patiently for years of poufy or A-line skirts for the pencil to come back so that there would be more selection but now I am not so sure if it looks good. Does is act to accentuate the inverted triangle shape? Is there are way to counteract the top heavy look in a pencil skirt when your shoulders are broad?

Shana, Nicole in the post above is an inverted triangle, and wears pencil skirts very well. I think the key is to keep the top half tailored. I am an hourglass, but have a very strong shoulder line. I avoid blouses with voluminous or puffy sleeves.

Great Angie! I’m so glad to hear I can have my skirt tailored. I’ll have to look into that ASAP.

I’m excited at the prospect of you in a well fitting pencils skirt, Sarah! Post a picture once you’ve had it altered.

Shana, Ana is spot on. Also, keep the side seams fairly straight from the hip down. That way you’ll balance out the top part of your body.

I am planning to apply for work this January. I don’t have an office attire yet, but has plan to buy a pencil cut skirt. However, I don’t know if it will look good to me. I am 5′5″ though.

I’m sooo on the fence about pencil skirts — they definitely fit my wardrobe aesthetic of a clean, tailored look, but I’m a pretty pair and I don’t want to emphasize my widest part. My friend, who is an hourglass, keeps trying to get me into one, but I’m just not sure. I guess I’ll have to try some on, take pictures and let the Forum take a crack at it!

I am a size 14 and was thinking of wearing a pencil skirt out to a fun, nice, dinner with some girl friends. I saw that spanx makes one called “The Bod-a-Bing Pencil Skirt”. It has the girdle built-in so you get that smooth siloutte. I am an hour glass shape.. do you think this would look good on me? Maybe with a belted blouse?

Has anyone tried the spanx skirt and if so what do you think?

This post is such a coincidence! I was just looking at this skirt this morning and wanted to ask Angie about it: http://www.express.com/catalog.....goryId=180 (I believe is the one that Tanya was referring to?) I *need* this skirt…but I don’t know if I can justify its purchase for the minuscule amount of wear it would get.

And more importantly, I don’t know if I can pull it off- I’m either an apple or an hourglass (I think…I’ll post up measurements in another post to confirm) Angie, any thoughts? Is this skirt too narrow as it comes down?