I like pencil skirts but I think they skew corporate. Especially solid black versions. I’ve worked from home since 2019 so I’ve had no need for business looks for quite a while. Some of my nicest clothes are currently languishing in my closet. I know many of you are having a similar experience in 2020.

After reading Angie’s post on wearing a relaxed pencil skirt in summer I challenged myself to wear my favourite winter pencil skirt casually. It is solid black, woven and lined. It has buttons and a small side slit that give it bit of a Lauren Bacall/femme fatale factor that I like, but still reads quite conservative (to my eye).

I wore these outfits to have dinner with my mum (+ distancing) at her home.

Outfit 1: I wore the skirt with a sweater (we call it a jumper), which I think is less “business like” than a shirt or blouse, and fishnets. The bag is a cross body, which I think is more casual than a satchel. The boots are almost flat, which to me reads more casual than heels.

Outfit 2: Similar combination. This time with a floral mesh top layered over a rust top, which I think is a little dressier than a jumper. I still felt the mesh, fishnets and lace up boots were sufficiently subversive of a classic workwear look.

What do you think?

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed wearing this skirt “out of office”. Thanks to Angie for giving me the impetus to get more out of my wardrobe during these strange and anxious times.

Take care everyone