Ask Angie: Fit, Footwear & Proportions for Pencil Skirt

Dear Angie,

Ever since I saw you with your red pencil skirt, I've wanted one for myself, too, so I found one! I have to say it's the most beautiful pencil skirt I've ever worn. I asked you yesterday about fit, and I think the fit of this skirt is right for me. I'm not after a very bombshell-y look, so I think the waistline as it is now is good. I also like the length. By raising the waistline I'm probably going to make my tummy more prominent, too.

What I'm really asking you about today, is to have a look at the various footwear I've paired this with. What do you think of the proportions? Does it work?

#1: The skirt with neutral pumps to show fit & length
#2: Basic flat tall boots. I wear these a lot in Winter, and will of course be wearing black tights by then. This is not the most elegant pairing, but I will be needing it. What do you think?
#3: Heeled tall boots - these are a tad taller, showing less skin. Can I wear them without hose?
#4: New Chelsea boots. Can I wear them without hose?

Thank you so much for helping me. I think I know more about fit and proportions now, but I'm still an undergraduate in Fashion School.

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12 years ago

lyn67

Veteran

Hi, Ingunn-happy you're back from your summer holiday, missed your posts.
Not Angie, but love shoe options nr 1, 3, and 4 with this skirt (trully beautifull, indeed). These are looking good without thights, too. Nr 2 would ask for a somehow shorter skirt to my eyes on bare legs, but back tight eventually can change everything.

Suz

(website)

I am bumping this up! I am fascinated by these proportions exercise. The skirt looks fantastic, Ingunn. As for the length, I am terrible at judging. But if Angie chimes in, I want to know why this shape and length looks so fabulous on Ingunn, but it wasn't quite right on me? Or rather, why longer and more tapered or a bit shorter worked better on me?

Sarah A

I think you are right on, 2 would be better with dark hose but the other iterations work as is. I will look forward to seeing what Angie says and also in regards to Suz's questions. I am trying to figure out my sweet spot for pencil/straight skirt hem and taper and this exercise is very educational, thanks!

Transcona Shannon

Like Suz, I'm interested to hear what Angie has to say. Proportions is something I am constantly thinking about and questioning in my own outfits. This skirt looks incredible on you Ingunn.

Those Chelsea boots are GORGEOUS!!!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I'm glad you're keeping the length and waist fit as is, Ingunn. The red skirt is more than perfect for you. It's a WOW piece for your style.

#1, #3 and #4 work flawlessly well.

I prefer #3 to #2 because of the dressier nature of the boots with the higher heel. The chunky nature of the boots in #2 just don't work as well with the classic skirt - and it's not about proportion lengths fighting with each other there. It's about mixing up styles. At least, that's how I see it. Sometimes, keeping a refined look throughout an outfit creates a cohesiveness that make the proportions work better all round. As you showed us so well here with the tall boot comparisons.

Suz, leg length and shape play a role in creating flattering proportions. That's why by slightly tweaking the outfit variables (skirt fit), you made the same principle work for you, but in a different way.

Anonymous

Hi Ingunn, I love your new skirt! In fact, I just picked up a red pencil skirt over the weekend so we'll be (fraternal) twins! I agree with Angie that the length and waist look really good. Having it just a titch longer makes it seem dressier and more elegant to my eye than an above-the-knee length. I love this with the nude pumps (and now you need some leopard ones if you don't have any already!). I'll defer to Angie on the boots. Where did you get that white sweater? That is exactly what I need. Please tell me it's from H&M!

Ingunn

Thank you, Angie, for replying so promptly - and wisely, I might add! I am very happy that you approve of my skirt both waist- and lengthwise. You see, I adore it just the way it is. Your response to #2 confirms what I felt, too. The boots are just not the right style for a dressy pencil. If I de-bombshelled it enough, they could get by, perhaps, but I realize that an upgrade will be in order. For now, I have tall dark brown riding boots on my wish list, but I wouldn't mind adding a new pair of black ones, too. Maybe not in the same season, though, because my budget would blow.

Claire, thank you, and yay for being skirt twins! You are right, I NEED leopard pumps, but they are scarce and hard to find here. Those I like are always very expensive. One day, though! My sweater is from BR, bought on final sale in San Diego June 2012. Sorry about that!

Day Vies

Surprisingly I like the booties with the skirt in #4. I usually don't like booties with skirts but I think it's because the boot color is echoed in the jacket which is the perfect cut to complement this skirt. The slightly pointed toe on the boot is also a help as well

I am not a fan of #2 the RATE look of the boot doesn't have a complement anywhere else in the outfit. If you were wearing a black moto I am sure I would feel differently.

#1 works well, as far as the shoe/skirt proportion goes. For some reason I don't like the sweater 's length I feel like the skirt's line of demarcation should be higher or lower I think this is a great place to add that blue and white tipped jacket of yours. It will lengthen the line of your torso which to me seems short with how the sweater is styled there (when I look at the sweater proportion in relation to the shoe proportion).

#3 needs no help the proportions and level of refinement are perfectly balanced.

DV, thank you for chiming in. Your assessment is so interesting, and I always learn so much from you. I actually tried the tipped nay with this, but it felt more like s Spring outfit, so I left it out this time. It looked good, though, so you are perfectly right. #2 is my least favorite here, and I will probably only wear it as commuter gear with a coat over - I think. But the bomber would add some balance, like you said.

Angie, thank you for explaining -- it seems as if it's a case of having to tweak the proportions so that they work with our particular bodies, and there is no shortcut for that. We just have to try and be willing to make adjustments.

Ingunn, you have three great footwear options so far with the skirt and I'll bet it could work with some of your other heeled booties and pumps, too.

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