POW 13: The Wardrobe Essential Pencil Skirt

Do you have a pencil skirt? Pencil skirts are a wardrobe essential, especially for office, dates, and special occasions, but can even work for casual and play. I wear them a lot myself, and have made them key parts of many POW outfits. 

Sigourney skirt, Zebra belt, and Bowie Tee from cabi clothing Fall 2016. Fuzzy boots from JustFab.

It is past time I featured a pencil skirt as a POW. So, let me introduce you to our next Piece of the Week—the pencil skirt! Pencil skirts are slim, body hugging skirts that tend to end around the knee.  The pencil skirt is a classic, feminine, elegant, polished, and sexy wardrobe workhorse. It is also a rarity in that anyone can rock a pencil skirt—young, old, slim, curvy, athletic, short and tall. These flatter everyone. Part of the reason is that they show off the calf part of the leg, which is one body part that tends to look great on all women regardless of size or age (the shoulders are another). The classic also enhances curves, slims, boost confidence, and gives any outfit the chic, cool elegance of a Parisian woman. Every woman should have at least one. I have… well… a lot. So, if you are new to pencil skirts or want to wear them more, check out all my posts and outfits that include them!

Fit and length:

You want a pencil skirt to follow your natural curves and fit at both the waist and hips, which can be harder to find if your waist to hip ratio doesn’t match the “standards” clothes are designed for. My hips are larger than these standards (or waist smaller), and I have a hard time finding something that is smooth across my hips and not too loose across my belly. I recommend if you have fit problems, going for a stretchy fabric such as a knit or ponte, or getting something that fits the bigger body part and getting it altered to fit the smaller part.

While pencil skirts tend to be knee length, you can find or alter them to be different lengths to flatter your height:

• Shorter: If you are shorter or want your legs to look long, go for a pencil skirt that ends above the knee. Don’t go too far above the knee, maybe one to three inches, if you go too far, you lose the lengthening look of the skirt.
• Average height: Look for skirts that hit right at knee length. You will get the lengthening of the pencil skirt and can show off lots of leg.
• Taller: You can rock pencil skirts that go below the knee. They tend to make people look shorter, so keep this in mind (but you can get away with that). I suggest wearing heels if you go with the longer length. You can also wear shorter styles too.

A solid pencil skirt is universally flattering. If your bottom half is a “problem” area for you and you want to hide problems, go for darker solid colors. If you want to show off your bottom half or your curves, consider bright colors and prints.

You can make a pencil skirt work for anybody type. If you want to know how to rock it for your body shape, check out this great post “How to wear the pencil skirt” on How to dress like a Parisian, which goes over how to wear a pencil skirt for any body type.

The skirt:

For this POW, I am featuring the cabi Fall 2016 Sigourney skirt. Unfortunately, the cabi Fall 2016 season has closed, which means this fabulous skirt is no longer available via the traditional means. If you must have this piece, here are some ways you may be able to get it:

Sigourney skirt and Tempest Blouse from cabi clothing Fall 2016. Boots and choker from JustFab. Clutch older.

• First, always try your stylist. She may have a sample available, know of another stylist with a sample available, or have other ways to get it. If you do not have one you may reach out to my stylist Joni Allen (via email or phone: 770 502-5243 [call or text]), Leigh Cheatwood-Harris (a friend’s stylist whom I have worked with also and can recommend: email and her site), or find a cabi stylist near you.
• Second, check out resale, such as ebay or the Facebook groups or apps that allow people to sell their cabi.
• Third, wait until August, when the outlets will get the Fall 2016 line and to go or call an outlet to see if they have this. Many outlets will allow you to order over the phone and then ship it to you.

But, pencil skirts are amazingly easy to find, and you have lots of option that are available. If you want a turquoise pencil skirt, check out:

• A knee length, Fitted Pencil Skirt from the Karen Michelle Boutique. It comes in many colors and is only $29!
• The Hervé Léger Bandage pencil skirt, which has a vertical “bandage” design that will emphasize curves
•  Amazon also has several

There are so many options in different colors and prints, here are a few that I found:

• Lands’ End has several, including a ponte in bright pink or black, a below-knee “Wear to Work Pencil Skirt” in gray with a pin stripe, and even a Jean Pencil Skirt!
• Ann Taylor as has many great options, such as the classic black “All-Season Stretch Seamed Pencil Skirt,” a red lace pencil skirt, a tweed, and a rose print.
• H&M has two bold print Pencil Skirts for a bargain of $12.99! 
• I’ve gotten three great pencil skirts from Stitch Fix, use my referral link for $25 of your first Fix (here is one, the other two will be showing up during this POW)
• JustFab also has several, including a plaid one, a black one with a bow, a below knee gold shimmer skirt, and a lace one. (Use my referral code to save money)
• If you want to try some out, consider Le Tote, where you can try the clothes through their subscription and keep what you want. For a free tote, try my code.

• LuLaRoe makes some great pencil skirts—the Cassie. The LuLaRoe stylist I have worked with the most is Emily Henry (lularoeemilyhenry@gmail.com or via Facebook). I will be showcasing one of these as an alternative style in one of the POWs, so watch out for it.

Sigourney skirt from cabi Fall 2016. Bistro Tee, Dot Jacket, Lock & Key Necklace, and Lock & Key Bracelet from cabi clothing Spring 2017. Shoes are from Stitch Fix.

Do join us for the thirteenth POW and discover seven ways, from the playground, office, home, or even a night on the town, and more to style this laid chic, flattering, and classic wardrobe staple, the pencil skirt!