Today I’m going to talk about Pencil Skirts.
I enjoyed writing the little piece on Breton Stripes at the beginning of this month, so I thought I could make it a semi regular feature, where semi regular means “as and when I feel like it”
A good pencil skirt is one of my go to wardrobe items. Smart enough for business, but also versatile for every day wear, and actually quite comfortable too as well as being flattering if it fits right.
The pencil skirt is essentially an updated version of the hobble skirt, which was a short lived pre WWIÂ fashion that was so tight around the knees and ankles that it impeded normal walking.
Knee length straight skirts were economical on fabric and popular during WWII, but the pencil skirt as we know it now is credited to Christian Dior as part of his post WWII “New Look” which didn’t just contain the full skirts we see so often, but also longer calf length skirts that hugged the legs and made walking more difficult.
You can certainly see similar long line narrow skirts back in the 1930s as well, which were said to be Dior’s inspiration, but there is little doubt that the sexy, figure hugging, below the knee pencil skirt we think of now springs from the Dior collections of the late 1940s and early 50s.
The pencil skirt lost a little of it’s popularity through the 1960s and 70s, before becoming immensely popular again in the 1980s when power dressing became the office wear look of choice for many women.
A pencil skirted suit, complete with hat, gloves and heels is an early 50s look, swap the jacket for a tight fitting jumper for a style that’s very Marilyn Monroe or team it with flat shoes and a beehive for a 60s beatnik feel.
I have a couple of well fitting pencil skirts that I wear to death. I am in need of a new black one at the moment as my custom made Lady K Loves one is on it’s last legs, I wear it so often.
Finding good pencil skirts on the High Street can be a tricky job if you’re outside of the average measurements, as this is a skirt that really needs to be fitted across the waist and hips. I would always recommend trying on pencil skirts to find your perfect fit.
Here are a few good versions from High Street and reproduction sellers. I’ve picked some classic black ones, but most of these places also have them in a range of colours and patterns, particularly the Vivien of Holloway version!
Belted Midi Pencil Skirt £17.50 Marks & Spencer
Magi Sculpt Skirt £37 Simply Be
Pencil Skirt £45 Vivien of Holloway
Comments
13 responses to “Iconic Styles: The Pencil Skirt”
I have a couple of favourite pencil skirts too, have had them for years. I don’t like mine too long, as I need to be able to walk quickly and my stumpy legs impede that as it is! I think M&S and Asda are doing those ‘shaping’ skirts too, now- a definite good idea for a pencil style.
one of my favourite go to items too, can be dressed up or down, love it!
I’m getting more drawn to pencil skirts lately (I wear a lot of full skirts….which is fine when it’s not windy, little bit awkward when the gusts get going!) but my problem is my big fat tum! LOL!
I have to watch that the skirt doesn’t “pull in” under the tum, I need a “straight” style I suppose.
Is it just a cheapness thing? If I pay a little more do I get a more classic skirt and not one that wants to hug my tummy to death?? LOL!
Oh I’m so weak….just ordered the M&S one! LOL!
And may, or may not, have been side tracked by a red one too.
My inner shopaholic thanks you Retro Chick. (My purse not so much so! Heh!)
It’s worth trying them on. You might find a great quality one for cheap. It’s all in the fabric. If you buy one in a non stretch fabric it won’t hug so much.
Sandy, tomorrow in Brighton I am going to Primark to buy their version of ‘Spanx’, I am told they are excellent and cost about £4! It’s easy to forget that those 50s ladies wore staunch corsets, long line ‘firm’ bras and corsalettes under those nipped in clothes. I remember my mother and older cousins squeezing into them!
I’ve looked online at various “spanx”-alikes….trouble is, my faves are usually the ones that are nearer £30 than £4! LOL!
I can vouch for the M&S skirt as I’ve just bought it, however, the red I also found, in the same size was about 3 inches bigger on the waist than the black! So their generic size table is pretty useless really. Roll on Retro Chicks call for better sizing labels!!!
In fact the Primark ones are very good, pull up to the bra and draw in everything. Big problem is no trying on, the size I would usually buy looked smallish so I went for the 16/18 rather than my 14 as they did 12/14. Got home and tried it, works a treat and comfy. It was Naomi Thompson who said lots of women buy the Primark and she recommended them.
For serious clothes I have a ‘What Katy Did’ up to the bra panty corset – a serious piece of fabric engineering. The Primark will do very well for every day, worth £5 for a try.
I’m a recent pencil skirt convert. I wouldnt have gone near them a couple years ago but I’m really loving the slimline shape they are giving me. I wear them for work and have a gorgeous one that I bought from Matalan, proof that you can get a good shape and not too heavy a price.
I love pencil skirts, they are so versatile when you style them up, and they look great too! X
Oh, the pencil skirt. Definitely one of my favorite items. I have several basic wool skirts from the 80’s I found at thrift stores for a very fair price. They still made good quality back then and the materials last longer too. The down side is that often the length is a little out dated, so I always shorten them a bit.
I don’t like the low waist cut many high street sellers prefer.
I’m on the prowl for pencil skirts and after searching I’ve decided to make my own. Off to Brighton tomorrow to buy fabric! I thought a light fabric with pockets in the side and one, like yours, with front pockets – I have to make the patterns though so they may end up both being the same.
The pencil skirt is always in style, the way it flatters the feminine silhouette. Sexy yet modest the same time, it’s one of my favourites, too!