This style first appeared immediately after the Second World War. The legendary Coco Chanel is considered its developer, although there are other versions of its creation.
A pencil skirt perfectly emphasizes all the advantages of a woman's figure. Moreover, it is appropriate even for a work environment where there is a strict dress code.
Pros and cons of the model
In the post-war years, when clothing prioritized practicality and functionality, women's hem lengths were shortened to the calves. The trend of the “tailed” skirt, as well as the sheath dress from Chanel in the early 40s, prompted the Christian Dior fashion house to create a pencil skirt. As part of a women's costume, it looked very impressive and became widespread, including among film industry stars. The model got its name due to its shape: tapered at the bottom, it looks like a pencil.
The peculiarity of the cut is that the item is modeled on the basis of a straight skirt. The narrowing begins 6–9 cm below the hip line along the side sections (2 cm from each panel). A slot is added to the back.
The advantages of a pencil skirt for a woman are obvious:
- The model favorably emphasizes the difference between the waist and hips.
- Suitable for any figure: for those with curvy figures it will help to hide their fullness, for slender girls it will help to emphasize their graceful silhouette.
- The skirt allows you to create completely diverse looks.
- The shape of the product limits the girl’s movements, giving her gait femininity and grace.
- Suitable for ladies of different age categories.
Suitable for any figure and ladies of all ages
Emphasizes the difference between the waist and hips
Allows you to create diverse looks.
A pencil skirt is recommended for owners of any body type, with the exception of petite beauties whose height does not reach 165–170 cm. It is worth noting that the skirt can be made in various styles:
- Classical. Assumes a black color of the product, a standard narrowed shape and a length 2-3 below the knee.
- Casual. Presented with knitted skirts with elastic. The look is completed with a T-shirt and low-heeled shoes.
- Sporty chic. Glamor with elements of a sports theme involves combining a classic skirt with tops, T-shirts, and sneakers.
The main disadvantage of this model is that the skirt is not entirely suitable for everyday life, which requires freedom of movement and speed.
With all the versatility of the model, choosing the right one is not easy. For example, a long skirt with a small slit in the back or a stretchy skirt that fits tightly is a bad choice.
Classical
Casual
Sport chic
What to wear with a pencil skirt - examples of images in the photo
Let's start with traditional options and find out what to wear with a pencil skirt in 2021 to the office: white cotton blouses-shirts look great in a business look, and more sophisticated plain blouses made of satin and satin, decorated with flounces or frills, are also suitable.
If you are wearing a high-waisted model, it is advisable to tuck the blouse. This outfit is complemented by a short, straight-cut jacket. In the summer, feel free to use fitted shirt blouses with short puff sleeves, as well as light tops that can be worn untucked.
Look at the examples of images in the photo of pencil skirts for 2021 - among them there will surely be one that suits your taste:
For a formal look, choose tops with a neckline, halter neck and corsets. A plain skirt with a contrasting color top, embroidered with sequins or rhinestones, looks very harmonious. Tops made of fabric with lurex or metallic threads are suitable. Girls with narrow hips are recommended to wear tops with a peplum - this element will visually expand the problem area and add proportionality to the figure.
And for ladies with a pear figure, who are accustomed to hiding their hips under elongated tunics, doing this with a pencil skirt is strictly contraindicated. Try to balance the silhouette with voluminous details at the top of the figure - flounces and drapes on the chest, shoulder-to-shoulder necklines, batwing tops and puffed sleeves, dropped armholes, stoles and boas.
To the question “What to wear with a pencil skirt in 2021?” a photo will answer best - visual examples will allow you to understand what mood a pencil skirt creates. A woman in such a skirt is very fragile and elegant, so the top of the bow should be of a similar design. Emphasize your breasts with a neckline or, conversely, closed but translucent tops with a stand-up collar. Show off your toned arms with a sleeveless top or a fitted turtleneck. Don’t overload your look with massive jewelry, because the main trump card of an outfit with a pencil skirt is a chiseled silhouette.
In the cool season, you can combine many styles of coats and jackets with a pencil skirt. These are cropped jackets, fitted jackets, feminine cardigans, flared short coats, short raincoats with a belt and, of course, short fur coats. But you need to be more careful when choosing shoes - any boots will make the image rougher and neutralize the entire charm of the outfit. Wear stiletto ankle boots or closed heels. Summer shoes under a pencil skirt can be wedge, open-toed or with a Mary Jane-type buckle.
Manufacturing materials
Natural, mixed and artificial fabrics of various textures are used for sewing. Due to the peculiarities of the silhouette, fabrics that contain a small amount of stretch are best suited for a pencil skirt. Depending on the season, fabrics based on cotton, a natural breathable material, are also optimal for making a pencil skirt. In summer, it is better to choose light, soft fabrics: cambric or matting. In spring and autumn, durable and wear-resistant poplin, corduroy, and plaid are suitable. In winter, warm flannel will be relevant, as well as wool materials - felt, felt, mohair or drape.
Silk pencil skirts shine in sunlight and artificial light. Satin and chiffon models look very expensive and are pleasant to the body. Knitted pencil skirts are versatile because they are suitable for almost any occasion.
The combination of fabrics can be selected based on the principle of compatibility of the bottom and top.
| Bottom material | Companion top |
| Atlas | Velvet, chiffon, lace |
| Velvet | Crepe, satin, silk, satin |
| Jersey | Suede, chiffon, leather |
| Jeans | Knitwear, jacquard, tweed, corduroy |
| Leather | Fleece, jersey |
| Poplin | Taffeta |
| Tweed | Corduroy, bouclé, denim, leather |
| Silk | Panvelvet, openwork, chiffon, jersey |
| Chiffon | Silk, satin, velvet, openwork, panvelvet |
Clothing creates a holistic image, the compositional center of which is better to make the advantageous sides of the figure. Thus, thin fabrics will suit slender women, while dense fabrics will suit fat women, since they better hide problem areas of the figure and insufficient tone of the hips. To create daring looks, the following rules for combining fabrics are used:
- If the outfit is designed in one layer, the weight and density of the material should be almost identical. In multi-layer options, matching density is not necessary: the closer the layer is to the body, the thinner the fabric.
- When combining textures, either contrast or support is used.
A suede upper in a composition with a corduroy product needs to be diluted with color, because the textures are almost identical. A cashmere sweater with a brocade or silk skirt is an example of contrast, a neoprene sweatshirt with a leather “pencil” is a good support.
Leather
Velveteen
Atlas
Brocade
Drape
Design and decor
Looks with a skirt range from classic to homeless style. In summer, satin and lace products are trendy. In the cold season, pencil skirts made of leather, suede, and eco-leather will be fashionable. Wrap and high-waisted models are still relevant.
The product can be decorated:
- Rhinestones and sequins. Glitter is associated with celebration. It is important to choose models in calm shades: white, gray or black. In this case, the clothes will add aristocracy and will be appropriate in any situation.
- Lace. A skirt with lace at the bottom is an example of femininity and sophistication. This model is suitable for the office or a date. The product can be combined with a lace top.
- Flounces and ruffles. This decor gives the skirt romance and lightness.
- Embroidery or applique. A cotton pencil skirt with a floral or ethnic pattern is perfect for an evening walk in the warm season.
Models with deep necklines have been popular for several years now. They are made in military, safari, and boho styles. Not a single trend has bypassed this basic wardrobe model.
Models with patterns
A pencil skirt without design or draperies is a very simple wardrobe item that is quite easy to sew yourself. Using a simple knee-length skirt as an example, let’s look at the sewing pattern for this model.
For sewing, you will need two pieces of fabric, folded in half, made according to the measured dimensions of the waist circumference, hips and the desired length from the waist to the bottom of the product. Measure out the triangles to sew the tapered pieces together. Sew all the cut pieces of fabric together, leaving a slit at the bottom back of the skirt as shown.
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Fashionable colors
It is better to have several colors of pencil skirts in your wardrobe - this will allow you to create bright, unique images. Black and light knee-length items are basic items. If there are no problems with dark colors, then an outfit with a light shade of skirt needs to be carefully thought out. It is not recommended to use bright white color: 80% of women do not suit it at all. A milky or pink shade is suitable for those with a warm color type of appearance, and blue-white is suitable for a cold one.
Skirt models in red, black, white, gray are classic. The latter symbolizes consistency and professionalism. It matches most shades and fits harmoniously into office style. Red is a great bright option for a date. These colors are always in fashion. The summer trend for everyday wear is deep, rich shades: crimson, purple, yellow, turquoise. In this case, color companions are selected according to the chain principle. A blue or yellow jumper will go well with a malachite skirt.
Fashionable prints - checks, as well as all types of stripes. A vertical middle stripe is perfect for a pencil skirt. Animal prints never lose their relevance. It is more difficult to select companions based on the image. If the top and bottom patterns are different, then the size should be identical. If the motifs of the image are the same, the size is necessarily different.
Bright, deep shades are suitable for summer and spring, dark and rich shades are suitable for the cold season.
Pencil skirt: who suits it?
A pencil skirt is an excellent option for those with a beautiful and slender figure. Although girls with curvy figures should not neglect it. After all, a style suitable for overweight ladies can advantageously emphasize appetizing curves and visually correct figure flaws. A high-waisted pencil skirt fits equally well into a set with a business jacket, cardigan, or blouse.
Such a thing is a real find; it will look great as a skirt for overweight women who always want to look elegant, regardless of the setting and situation. It is perfect for formal events and special occasions.
Therefore, a pencil skirt can be safely classified as a universal item that must be present in any woman’s wardrobe.
How the style was created
After some time (in 1926), the famous little black dress from Coco Chanel appeared, which, like the interesting “pencil” skirt model, repeated all the curves of the body, did not tighten the hips, but only gracefully emphasized the silhouette. Christian Dior brought popularity to the product under study in 1940 with his new post-war New Look collection. And thereby will return femininity and lightness, breathe new ideas about women in the world of fashion and beyond. A skirt with a peplum also gave a graceful shape to women's hips.
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The new model of the skirt, the “pencil,” appeared in other collections, and therefore very quickly took root in women’s wardrobes, because in the post-war years society changed and was ready to accept a strong, business woman. Nowadays, an active person needs a minimum of restrictive clothing, so items of clothing are appearing that expose ankles and calves, which was unthinkable some twenty years ago. It will take more than one decade for the emancipation of society and the adoption of new moral principles, however, a start has been made and it was reflected in fashion, which opened up new views for women. The classic combination of a skirt, which was recommended in those days, was with a jacket, tunics, sweaters or loose-fitting blouses. The next peak in popularity of such a skirt came in the 80s and 90s, when ordinary women and famous actresses and singers began to participate in even more public and social events.
Creating a fashionable look
The looks created with a pencil skirt are very diverse. With this wardrobe item you can choose an outfit to suit any style:
- A classic skirt fits into a “sea” ensemble: a striped print in traditional colors will be trendy. So, a stylish pencil skirt with horizontal blue stripes of medium width, a white shirt, and a jacket with vertical wide red stripes is an interesting summer combination. Gold accessories and a clutch will be the “cherry on the cake” of this look.
- Monochrome bows, that is, with a stretch of color, are perfect for business meetings or formal events. The look will be harmoniously complemented by pumps and silver accessories. The bag should be a classic, medium-sized bag.
- For an evening look with a skirt, it is worth forming a duet of an openwork top with a silk model of classic length. The shine of the fabric will draw attention to the shapes, and the length will emphasize the restraint and aristocracy of the outfit.
- A casual style look for every day can be easily put together from a knitted pencil skirt, light sneakers and a top.
There is even a sporty version of the skirt that goes well with sneakers and is suitable for creative girls.
A pencil skirt easily serves as the main skirt for outfits of various styles. TOP 13 ideal looks with this versatile product:
- You can combine a skirt with voluminous sweaters; knitted jumpers are suitable. By tucking the sweater in the front, the girl will emphasize her thin waist and the length of her legs. A shirt underneath a sweater will add layers to your look.
- Pairing the piece with a loose printed T-shirt looks bold. The top is tucked in or tied in a knot.
- The classic model goes well with sports bomber jackets and sweatshirts. You can complete the look with shoes in the same style.
- Knitted skirts below the knee go well with shirts and blouses.
- Models with sequins are part of an everyday look if you choose the right top. Jeans shirts and jersey sweaters would be appropriate.
- A scarlet leather pencil skirt will look ultra-fashionable if you wear it with a pastel cream blouse with a small red print. The look will be completed with boat shoes in neutral tones, a small clutch and elegant jewelry.
- A shirt with a bright large print with a white ruffled skirt is a win-win option for a romantic date.
- Jeans are a classic casual style. So that a girl in a skirt can add brightness to her look, it is recommended to combine the product with a light top in bright colors - orange, red, coral, yellow.
- A seductive look can be created by combining a “pencil” with a provocative neckline and a short top made of velvet and lace.
- Outfit for a corporate party: a pencil skirt with a taffeta peplum, a tight top made of expensive fabric and high-heeled shoes.
- A colored leather model combined with a pullover or turtleneck is suitable for get-togethers with friends.
- A product made of thick knitwear can serve as the main sporty look. You just need to add sneakers and a T-shirt - the outfit is ready.
- The long model with elastic band is laconic and elegant. Pair it with a white T-shirt, heels and a clutch for a stylish look for every day.
When putting together sets, do not forget that models with a high waist and decoration on the belt, in principle, require a tucked top. It is important that the fabric is dense and not see-through. Low- and mid-rise pieces can be worn however you like. It is appropriate to highlight an untucked shirt with a strap. You can fill it only halfway as a stylish experiment: either the left or the right side should lie freely.
Wide choose
Which fabric is right for you? This year, an endless number of different styles of the studied wardrobe item have appeared, to suit any figure and taste. You can even find several dozen models of leather pencil skirts. But how can you determine which fabric and details are right for you? Let's figure it out:
