Keep or Return: pencil skirts (and skirt fit workshop)

So I bought grey and olive wool pencil skirts from UO; they have no stretch, so I'm a little concerned that the fabric may crease a lot when I sit/stand, but then again, I wonder if a stretchy skirt would lose its 'pencilness' by the end of the day. I also don't know if these would be better on me if they were over the knee rather than just above it (isn't that the classic pencil skirt silhouette?). These were quite cheap on the end-of-season sale; the quality is good for the price but not fantastic--I'd be willing to pay more if you suggest something better. (Weirdly the grey is slightly smaller than the olive even though they are the same size, and I also ordered a size bigger but I do not find them to look any different.)

So the grey and olive are keep or return. (Sorry to subject you to my bare midriff, but I thought it might be important to see the top of the skirt.) The blue and the red are recent thrift finds. I guess I am just wondering if I even know what to look for in skirt fit.
Are these all okay? Do you think the longer length or the shorter is better on me? I normally think I look better in shorter (above-the-knee) things but maybe I have been wrong all these years.

Thanks for your help!

This post has 7 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

15 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Keep or Return? - I think the grey looks a tad small on you; I vote return the grey but keep the olive

I also think that above-the knee fit (ie: the olive in #3/4) looks awesome on you How does it feel? I know that pencil skirts are sometimes hard to walk in (and run!) I like it better than the below-the knee fit (ie: #7). Although you still look awesome in the fit of #7

Teehee; hope that helps!

chewyspaghetti

It could just be the way you're standing, but all of them have a bit of wrinkling across your hips. If they are tight at all across the hip, I would size up.

Stephanie

Well, when I stand straight, there is no wrinkling across the hips, but when I move (and apparently when I cock my hip, as I seem to do in photos, for some unknown reason) I can make the skirts wrinkle. Does that mean they are too small?

Steph

The grey looks too tight to me. The olive is a little tough to tell, but it looks like it might be tight across the hips (looks fine from the side, though, so it could just be the way you are standing). You mentioned you have them in one size bigger--can you post photos of those as well?

Stephanie, I just saw your comments about standing straight vs. standing with a cocked hip. I'm not sure of the answer, but you are going to be moving in the skirt, so I would probably judge it more as when it is in motion. To my eye, the grey is too tight regardless--I feel like I can see the outline of your thigh, and it looks snug from the side as well. I think that it ruins the line of the skirt because it almost looks like it tulips out where the skirt becomes looser, but it should be more of a straight line. Can you take a photo without your leg cocked so we can see what it looks like when you're standing still? That might help.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I vote return the grey and keep the red and the blue. I LOVE the blue!

Jenava

I really love the blue. The red looks good, too. The grey looks a touch tight, and the olive looks like it's too big in the waist and too tight in the bum...You could get it altered, but is it worth it?

Have you tried this one?
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ha.....rt/3093787

Not sure where you are, so it might not be an option for you...this one runs big, and has stretch, but it's a nice thick knit and the seaming is really flattering.

Would the Halogen fit me? I'm normally a size 0, in Halogen, and everyone keeps saying how huge it runs.

Yes, it does run big. Bummer!

danza.armonia

Active Member

I adore the blue on you! Tres chic!!

teri

the blue is perfect!

Jonesy

Hmm, I think the first two look too snug. I think it's a combination of them being a bit small along with the lightweight material...I'll bet they would wrinkle the second you sat down. I think a bit of a taper at the bottom of a pencil skirt is okay, but you don't typically want them really hugging your thighs/hips, at least IMHO. I like the red one, and love the blue one.

J. Crew always has lots of pencil skirts in high-quality fabrics (so, less wrinkling, nice drape); so does Talbots, of all places.

I think the thrifted ones fit best. Next is the olive and last the gray. Olive is a touch big and gray is a touch small. But if you fluctuate at all in your weight they are each like 1/2 a size off only. Funny that the thrifted would come out ahead, huh?

Category