Pencil Skirt

What do Nicole Kidman, Ashley Simpson, Jessica Alba and Jennifer Aniston have in common? Apart from the color of their hair of course! All of them can pull off being dressed in a pencil skirt, even in their sleep (which may be a little difficult, to be honest). And if you've noticed, they aren't really necessarily of the same body type. While a couple of them may be tall and have never-ending legs (sigh!), the others are of a height that most women can comfortably relate to (bless them). Some are stick thin and some are curvaceous. So, what is this piece of women's clothing that can suit all the body types? Let's find out in the sections below.

The Pattern

Since after the Second World War, the women of the west began to take fashion clothing very seriously. To the extent of sometimes not being comfortable in what they wear. A pencil skirt, can be called one of these pieces of clothing that emerged as a super successful fashion trend at that time. The basic pattern of the pencil skirt is as follows. It is a form hugging skirt, that extends up to or below the knee. It fits snugly, right from the waist until the end seam at the knee. The tightness of the skirt, and its long and slim fit is what gave it the name 'pencil skirt'. Initially somewhat like 'hobble skirts' (called so because they made women 'hobble'), these skirts were given a new name and look by Christian Dior when he termed it an H-line skirt and allowed the length to be shortened from the hobble's full length to the knee length that it is a major fashion trend today. Most pencil skirts today come with either a back slit or a side slit, in order to make the leg movements a little less cumbersome for the wearer.

Dos and Don'ts

It must be said that wearing a pencil skirt is not for those women who are not very comfortable in tight clothing. This is because since the skirt is relatively tight and ends at the knees, it restrains the swift and easy movement of the legs. Hence, while wearing a pencil skirt, you need to walk in small, quick and defined steps. Activities like climbing a ladder, cycling, sitting cross-legged (Indian style), etc. are nearly impossible in this skirt, so please do not attempt them. What you can do is practice walking in high heels with a heavy book on your head, sitting into a car sideways, with both your legs together and sitting with one leg crossed over the other for a long time. These are the few activities that will not be difficult to perform wearing a pencil skirt, but they could use a little training nonetheless.

What to Wear with a Pencil Skirt

In earlier days, a pencil skirt was worn as a style statement by businesswomen. Today however, it is worn by women professionals all around the world. When it comes to what to team up the pencil skirt with, there are so many options. If you're thinking retro fashion, then you can get a checkered pencil skirt and pair it with a plain top with some tassels and knee length boots! For formal office wear, you can never go wrong with dark colors. A navy blue or black pencil skirt with a pristine white blouse, smartly tucked in, together with a jacket matching the skirt makes for an elegant formal pencil skirt outfit. Pencil skirt dresses are also doing the rounds of the fashion circuit. So you can snag a couple of body hugging dresses and wear some sexy boots and wrap a gorgeous stole around your shoulders for an extra glamorous look! It will flatter your curves and make you look super sexy!

A pencil skirt is more of a formal attire, so avoid wearing it for casual occasions. It will restrict your movement and you won't be able to enjoy yourself. But for formal dinner parties or regular office wear, this is one of the best options!