How to wear a pencil skirt (especially if you’re short)

how to wear a pencil skirt
(Image credit: Shutterstock/Rex)

Let it not be said that when I love a trend, I don't try my hardest to make it work for me. Case in point: pencil skirts. For both AW17 and SS18, they flooded the catwalk. They were knitted and featured bold prints at Versace and Prada for winter, while they got a floral and pastel makeover at Gucci and Max Mara for spring.

But can a skirt that grazes below the knee of willowy models work on a much shorter frame like mine (I'm 5ft3)? In short: yes. The trick is to play around with proportions for the rest of your outfit so it doesn't look like your heels are cut off. Read on to see what I mean.

Rule number 1. Don't wear a long top that'll swamp you. Instead, take full advantage of the nipped in waist by tucking in a top in it, or rolling it up so it sits just above your hips (see below).

how to wear a pencil skirt

Top: Arket, Skirt: Reiss, Shoes: Topshop, Bag: Cos

Rule number 2. This style really does work better with height, so heels are a must, though it's a case of showing enough flesh or none at all. For winter, try high boots, and for summer, kitten heels. Anything in between can make even the thinest of legs look stumpy. Sorry.

Top: Arket, Skirt: Zara, Shoes: Zara, Bag: Topshop

Rule number 3. It's ok to cheat. Sometimes if the style is way too long, then I do roll it up every so slightly at the waist, and hide it under an oversized jumper (like the above look at London Fashion Week).

Rule number 4. Mix it up with the seasons. For winter, go for a leather or knitted skirt: the cosy look is in. For spring, opt for a lighter fabrics, and do dare to experiment with colour, be it a pastel mint (ice cream shades are very much in for SS18) or scarlet red.

Rule number 5. Don't be afraid to have fun, remember it's not illegal to try any trend you want, sartorial rules ARE meant to be broken. Shop my edit of the best pencil skirts out now below.

how to wear a pencil skirt

Shop now: OLIVIA STRETCH PANEL LEATHER SKIRT OX BLOOD for £195 from Reiss

how to wear pencil skirts

Shop now: LEOPARD-BOOM PRINT SKIRT for £54 from BIMBA Y LOLA

how to wear pencil skirts

Shop now: CALF-LENGTH LACE SKIRT WITH STARS for £37.50 from GUESS

how to wear a pencil skirt

Shop now: Pencil skirt for £17.99 from H&M

how to wear a pencil skirt

Shop now: JOSEPH Zip-detailed ribbed merino wool-blend midi skirt for £265 from Net-A-Porter

how to wear a pencil skirt

Shop now: BOTTEGA VENETA Patent-leather pencil skirt for £820 from The Outset

how to wear a pencil skirt

Shop now: SATIN SKIRT WITH PRESS FOLDS for £58 from COS

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.