Pencil skirts are typically part of a business formal clothing capsule. That’s where we’ve seen the bulk of the pencil skirt trend over the last few decades, but not this season. Playful pencil skirts are popping up all over the show in an abundance of fabrications (and their style detailing is wicked). For those of you who like to sport the “naughty secretary” or “librarian look”, your fashion fantasy just came true.

The pencil skirt has been making it’s comeback for a while. It’s resurgence goes hand-in-hand with the rebirth of ‘80’s tapered jeans. Both profiles are about looking sleek, sleek, sleek.

Pear shaped body types should be careful with pencil skirts, because A-line silhouettes are generally more flattering. But if you’re a pretty pear and you want to wear a pencil skirt, I say give it a bash. I’ve had success with pear shaped gals in pencils if the silhouette falls straight from the hip down (no tapering). This type of pencil style offers the look of a pencil with the advantages of an A-line. It’s a win.

The opposite holds true if you’re after a little more curve on the hip and thigh area. Opt for a silhouette that tapers in from the hip and follows the contour of your legs. Also a win.

A lass in a slick top and curve-hugging pencil skirt is as feminine and alluring as it gets. I like to pair my pencil skirts with a tucked-in button-down, form fitting polo-neck, or blousy top, a biker jacket or denim jacket, and knee high boots, fancy flats or chunky pumps. YLF forum members are having a ball sporting their pencil skirts this season. Feast your eyes on Sarah, Kyle, Eva, Nicole, Patience, Tanya and Ana. Each a different body type sporting a different style. They look fab!

For some reason there aren’t many pencil skirt options available online, but there are fantastic styles at stores like Anne Taylor, Express, Macys, Club Monaco, Benetton, Anthropologie and Nordstrom. Remember that denim and corduroy pencil skirts are superb casual alternatives if you feel that tweed and smarter fabrications are too fussy for your lifestyle.

I thought that Friday’s blog post on effortless style elicited some very eloquent, insightful comments. Here is my take on the matter, together with some of the quotes that really resonated.

Know yourself: This is where having style starts. You have to choose tasteful items that flatter your body type, show a bit of your personality and are occasion-appropriate. As Wendy says, it is about…

“knowing your body, who you are as a person, and what your lifestyle demands”.

Be confident: Confidence is key because style is in the wearer, not the clothes. Anyone can buy fashion, but style you have to own. It’s imperative to wear your look with conviction. Nicole is spot on when she says:

“I think the effortless part comes with confidence. It’s about owning your look and feeling confident in that ownership”

Sometimes it takes a while to wear a new look with confidence. In this case you’re building yourself up to the effortless part. I agree with JenniferBlue’s sentiment:

“I think you have to BELIEVE in what you’re wearing”

Don’t fuss: Effortless style allows you to get on with your day in a fabulous ensemble with minimum fuss. Your style is not effortless if you’re self conscious about the way you look and are uncomfortable in your outfit. As Ellen put it,

“I feel effortless because I really don’t have to pay attention to my clothes to know I look good”

Make the effort: There is no such thing as a stylish look without effort. This becomes easier when it is part of your routine and lifestyle. You want to establish efficient and effective stylish habits (and break bad stylish habits). Mirah puts it well when she says:

“effortless style is the final outcome not the actual process”.

Don’t try too hard: Heavy make-up at any time of the day or night screams fashion victim. All you’re after for ANY occasion is a bit of polish (whether the event is a ball or ball game). As A says:

“it comes down to high quality basics (cosmetics, hair and clothing.) Not overdone and consistent from day to day.”

Be yourself: In my opinion, Jennifer Aniston’s understated modern classic style and Kate Moss’s over-the-top, dramatic style are equally effortless. Aniston would look as if she was “trying too hard” if she started sporting one of Moss’s creative ensembles. By the same token, Moss would look bland and boring if she wore a classic Aniston look.

At the end of the day style begins and ends with a strong sense of yourself. As Lori puts it:

“You may be the most fashionable woman around, but if you are not comfortable with who you are than no amount of fashion will make you look effortless”.

Thank you for all the great input. There were many other excellent points. And different approaches: Johanna focuses on what is not effortless style and Anita makes an interesting analogy with effortless cooking. If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to take a look at the comments yourself.

A puffed sleeve is gathered at the sleeve crown and hem. It’s appearance is usually poufy because of the volume both at the shoulder and at the base of the sleeve.

I’m all for feminine details on blouses, tops, jackets, coats and frocks, but the puffed sleeve epidemic is becoming frustrating. A great fashion season is one that offers variety to its customers, but I don’t see a great enough assortment of sleeve silhouettes in store right now. Especially with petites, where the challenge is often to prevent my clients from looking like their young daughters. Perhaps we need a hip designer to showcase a collection of “Not Your Daughter’s Tops”.

Puffed sleeves can look fabulous on a certain body type and at a certain age. Pretty pears with narrow shoulders and youth on their side look killer in short puffed sleeves. But it often isn’t a flattering sleeve silhouette, especially on an older woman. It tends to look cutesy and juvenile instead of stylish and sophisticated. It also isn’t a good look for women with broad shoulders and strong shoulder lines, as it tends to make that body type look top-heavy.

I personally enjoy fun sleeves that are gathered at the crown, but sleek at the hem, in a three-quarter or long length. This type of voluminous sleeve looks more streamlined and age-appropriate if you’re in your late 30’s and older. But they aren’t easy to find because the short puffed sleeve is out of control.

See what I mean? What are your thoughts on all the short puffed sleeves in store at the moment?

Clamdiggers with knee-high boots eliminate “tucking-fuss” and are quite a hip expression if the variables are right. This is not a flop-proof look: The clamdiggers need to be long-ish, and the boots have to fit snugly against the calf. Here are some “dos” and “don’ts” for the combination:

• Tucking? Yes. You can tuck if the clamdiggers are long enough. YLF Forum member Sarah did a super job of tucking clamdiggers into her new, killer riding boots.
• Above the knee clams? Maybe. I don’t think the look will work as well with above-the-knee clamdiggers. But it’s definitely worth a bash if you own a pair of clams and a set of fairly casual knee-high boots.
• Walk shorts or cropped pants? Not really. These are not ideal substitutes for clamdiggers in this formula. You’re after “the skinny jeans vibe”, sans the skinny jeans, which makes anything wider at the hems a less current look.
• Turning up the hems? Not really. You’re after a long lean line, so turning up clamdigger hems is not a good idea. Keep them either tucked or un-tucked.

I wore clams with knee high boots last season and I’m sporting the look again. Comfy, funky and practical in the Seattle rain because your jeans don’t get wet. My clams are best un-tucked and I show a bit of skin with my slightly shorter pair of brown embroidered boots (picture 3 below). That’s okay. It looks a little cheeky and I like that.

(1) Weatherproof half ‘n half low wedged boots (microfiber and cracked patent), (2) Riding boots, (3) Retro embroidered boots, (4) 20 eyelet Doc Martens .