Q. I’d like to buy a new skirt as part of my winter wardrobe. What’s the hottest style this season?
A. It seems that fashion designers like to challenge us with a new skirt each season. We'd barely mastered the midi, before the forties-inspired pencil version, as seen on the Diane von Furstenberg autumn/winter 2011 catwalk, appeared on the scene.
It can, however, be an undeniably flattering style if you follow the rules, as explained below. Always pair your skirt with heels, and, this time round, avoid teaming it with a pussy bow blouse (the sexy secretary look is just a little bit too fancy dress).
They're also incredibly flattering for a wide range of figures, but the trick is finding the right hemline for your shape. Too low down on the lower leg and even the longest pins can look abbreviated, while too high up on the hip, the pencil skirt can look as if it shrunk in the wash. Look for a cut that hits right at the knee so you can walk and sit comfortably.
The trick lies in wearing something billowy and diaphanous to make your bottom half look as slim and sleek as possible. Keep cleavages covered - too Bet Lynch, otherwise - and aim for a bit of prissiness. The skirt will do all the teasing, believe me.
THE RULES
- Pencil skirts that hit right at the knee are wardrobe gold because they can be worn with almost any heels. Skip the wedges, as those can look too casual with something as polished as a fitted pencil skirt.
- Don't wear a pencil skirt with boots unless you have a black belt in fashion and a gigantic closet with lots of options. Finding a boot that hits at the exact right place on your leg when you've got a to-the-knee skirt is harder than solving the toughest Sunday crossword.
- When wearing something as fitted as a pencil skirt, always tuck in your blouse or shirt to help create a long, lean silhouette.
-Pair a pencil skirt in a dark or muted hue with a light-toned sweater (since dark colors visually shrink and light colors accentuate).
-Pick a top that covers the first few inches of the skirt but stops short of the widest part of your hips. Or wear a fitted blazer left open to reveal your waistline.
