Pencil skirt question - YouLookFab Forum

How are pencil skirts supposed to fit? I don't mean hem length or waist height; I'm talking more about the rest. I have been wondering about this for awhile, would someone please enlighten me?

I see some women wearing them fairly tight, tight enough they may even leave horizontal wrinkles, and yet it looks really good on them. But on me if I wear a pencil skirt that tight I just fear I look like a sausage or a snake that swallowed a small animal (my belly, not my butt... and you know it's the wrong fit if my belly sticks out more than my butt!) But if I wear them too loose, they don't look like pencil skirts to me. It seems you should be able to see some shape, no?

I'm mostly wondering because I have on my fall list: pencil skirts. I do like the look but the fit is always tough. I could use some very specific and detailed guidance....

To make matters easier, feel free to analyze/critique the fit of this pencil skirt that I wore for the YLF challenge:

http://s386.photobucket.com/al.....ne1010.jpg

http://s386.photobucket.com/al.....ne1009.jpg

This skirt usually hangs much looser on me. Since gaining a few pounds, when I first put it on for the challenge I thought it was now too tight. And yet, I see other people wearing them this tight, so I don't really know. It is a tad too tight in the waist but it zips and I could probably wear it out to dinner and be comfortable. Since my waist is relatively thick, that part is a given - I'm talking more about how it fits in the hips. Is this right?

16 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I think that if it wrinkles up, or you can't comfortable sit or eat- then it's too tight.
Yours looks fine to me.

taylor

I think you have it right Shiny, they should be snug, but not so tight it folds up on itself. At least that is how I wear them.

Looking back to the 40's and 50's and even 60's, they always wore them snug..VERY snug in the late 50's up to mid 60's..ala Liz Taylor,Marilyn Monroe etc.:)

Kathleen

Active Member

Your pencil skirt fits you well. You should be able to move, sit, bend etc., but - also look fitted and chic. It is a great skirt too - very pretty!

Kyle

Shiny: I'm not sure how a pencil skirt is supposed to fit, but yours looks just about perfect. I personally think a pencil skirt looks best when it is fitted, so it's a little sexy without being unprofessional or inappropriate at all (that's why I insist on a little stretch in all of mine). You have a lovely shape and the skirt complements it beautifully.

Kristen

(website)

I think it fits you just fine! I'm glad to see others reinforcing that too, because I do wear mine as snugly as yours is, and I wonder sometimes if it's too tight.

Maya

Pencil skirts are tricky for me. I think yours looks good Shiny. They're meant to "hug" your frame in a way that A-line skirts do not. That is why they are recommended for slim-hipped women. I am not sure how to know if they are too tight, but there are also variations on how they fall. Some are straighter and some are more tapered. That might have something to do with it.

This is the skirt I returned, the one I wore in my YLF challenge:

http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....G_1794.jpg

While it looks great, I couldn't stand how it felt. It was stretchy but I still felt as though I couldn't walk in it, even though it had a vent in the back. I tried a size up but it just didn't look as good because it didn't hug as much, although it was way more comfy. It hurt me to return it because it was so flattering, but it just didn't meet my needs, which was to be comfortable in the summer. Anything that constricting was going to be too hot.

So I guess I didn't answer your question, but I think they should fit tighter than maybe what we're used to.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Kyle, Maya and Taylor are spot on and your pencil skirt fits well, Shiny.

shiny

Wow, Maya, that skirt looks amazing on you! I think it fits you better than the one I wore for the YLF challenge.

Well, I wore a different pencil skirt tonight, one I bought at H&M last summer but have never worked up the courage to wear out of the house. Not so much because of the fit (it fit better -looser- last summer) but because of the color (a bright, loud tomato red). DH took pics - I'll upload when I get a chance tomorrow. This one has a lot of spandex in it so it was comfy but I was still wondering if it's supposed to hug as much as it does. I feel a lot better already hearing you all say pencil skirts should fit snugly!

shana

Shiny, your challenge skirts looks great! I have trouble with pencil skirts too. I think it has something to do with straightish hips. So many skirts that are labeled "pencil" appear rather as a straight skirt on my body. They may look more pencilish on a pear shaped body perhaps. I have to look for ones that are snug in the hips and clearly tapered in a bit to get the pencil fit.

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