The Return of the Pencil Skirt

not a boardroom or cubicle in sight

Yes, you read the title correctly, I said pencil skirts are back! They have been showing up all over runways and in collections for over a year now and it was something that at first I had to try and wrap my head around. The skirt that felt synonymous with boring work uniforms, thought in unison with pantyhose, or on the flip reminded me of the indy sleaze era where pencil skirts were just body conscious pieces of jersey fabrics you’d pull on for a party and put with your most fluorescent top and large beaded necklaces-what a time! The pencil skirts of-now are not any of the above associations, they play on the past as well as move the styling conversation forward. I think of The Row, Khaite, Miu Miu, Prada, even brands like Posse- bringing back the pencil skirt in a way that feels fresh through styling and fabric choice. The pencil skirt no longer has to mean your grandmothers “ladies who lunch” ensemble or your mothers “business woman special”. The pencil skirt can be cool and evoke a femininity that feels very in control and, at times, understated.

I pulled some of the pencil skirts I’ve begun adding to my wardrobe over the past year or so and played around with styling them. By nature I like to think of myself as a studier and researcher or my own wardrobe- holding experiments, testing theories, coming up with methods (of madness?), all in the name of styling science!

It’s funny how you can you put a piece of clothing in to such a “box” and with a little perception shift and some styling, it can become something totally different. I never thought I’d be writing about how much I’ve enjoyed styling pencil skirts and how versatile they can be, so much so that I’m planning on taking one of these one a beach trip (no office in site).

I hope you find a little inspiration to play in your closet and try on pieces you have!

cheers,

Taylor xx