The other week I recommended that everyone should have a pencil skirt as one of the basic staples of their business wardrobe. They are professional and flattering for most body types (think Christina Hendricks from Mad Men) and they go with everything from an oxford shirt, to a suit coat or belted cardigan. However, this week I received some questions about what is the appropriate length?
For me, a true pencil skirt is narrow all the way to the knees or just below, like this vintage 1940s Christian Dior skirt. (Ohhhhh ... this brings back memories of my favorite Dior navy blue pencil skirt suit with a Jackie O type collar. I loved that suit. I thought I was simply the height of glamour.) Image courtesy of www.Twolia.com.
The "point" of the pencil skirt is to slim the hips and elongate the legs. In other words, hide the saddlebags and the yucky fleshy part above the knees. Yet, what did we see predicted for Spring 2010 fashion? The micro mini is back! Ugh. Let's hope not. Hem lengths are actually something I never really thought about back in the 90s during the last micro-mini era, thanks to Ally McBeal mini-suit mania. I'm horrified to think of how short some of our skirts were back then.
Fortunately, I realized that micro-miniskirts in the office weren't exactly fitting with my VP title (or the fact that I was now in my 30s). However, I didn't totally lose my love of short skirts. Well, at least not until I hit my 40s.
I will confess to having had a brief 40-year old rebellion (you know - if "60 is the new 40," then "40 is the new 20") where I continued with the short skirts. Then one day I woke up, put on a short skirt (i.e. 3-4" above the knee), and despite my husband's protests, decided ... nope. Not me. Especially not at the office. And, even outside the office, I find myself now relegating them to beach days.
It's not that my legs suddenly looked different (I'm fortunate in that department), but it just felt like I was trying too hard or something. So, while I applaud Tina Turner and Heidi Klum who look fabulous in their minis (and get to wear them to work), the only mini I see in my future will have a "cooper" after it.
So, for those of us who want to hide our knees, or just feel funny showing that much leg in a professional capacity, stick with pencil skirts that hit an inch or two below the knee (the classic), or right at the knees. Here's a fabulous one by MissSixty, featured on the Fashion Beans blog.
Note that you do need to wear heels with pencil skirts because they cut you off at the knees and you want your legs to look long. So if you are on the shorter side, wear a traditional pump for an elongating effect.
For those of you who are comfortable showing off your knees at any age (and yes, I know some glamorous women in their 50s and 60s who could pull this one off), here's one from Ann Taylor that hits above the knee but is still professional. If this still seems a bit short, pair it with black tights and Mary Janes or T-straps as pictured below!
Of course my favorite look for pencil skirts are tights and boots (but
alas, the only thing I don't like about spring and summer is packing
away my fabulous boot collection).
For our younger readers: you can get away with a shorter skirt like this one from Banana Republic, (which is technically an A-line and not a pencil) but as you climb the corporate ladder,you might want to drop your hem lines. (I'm not so sure my Ally McBeal minis were a career helper.) Perhaps pair them with flats on casual day. Please note: if it's shorter than this ... it's too short for the office.
Now what do you do if, like me, you wake up one day and find all your skirts are just a smidgen too short for your liking? I've actually had a seamstress add a ruffle, a bit of lace and/or some ribbon to the hems of too-short skirts to get me an extra inch or two! And, wouldn't you know it, check out this pencil skirt from Ann Taylor where it looks like they did the exact same thing!
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