How To Wear A Pencil Skirt (Especially If You're Short)

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).

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.

She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.