Pencil Plaid Skirts

A straight, closely fitted skirt that follows the line of the body from waist to hem, usually finishing at or just below the knee, normally with a vent or a small split at the back to allow a normal stride. It is the sharpest and most formal skirt shape in the range.

Pencil reads more formal and more structured, and it is the stronger choice in a conservative office. A-line is more forgiving over the hip and more comfortable across a long day. If your workplace leans formal, take the pencil. If comfort and range of movement matter more, take the A-line.

Not in a muted sett. Black Watch, weathered and grey based tartans read as a dark check at conversational distance, and paired with a plain black top the outfit is entirely conventional. Bright modern colourways in a fitted cut are a different matter, and are better saved for evening than for a meeting.

Close but not tight, with enough room to sit without the cloth straining across the front. Measure waist and the fullest part of the hip, and send both. Because there is no flare absorbing error, this is the least forgiving cut in the range and the one where an accurate hip measurement matters most.

Not if the vent is the right length, which is what it is there for. A pencil skirt without an adequate vent or split will shorten your stride noticeably. Check the hip measurement carefully when ordering, since a skirt that is tight at the hip puts every bit of strain on that vent.

Get the hip measurement right rather than sizing up at the waist to compensate. A skirt that is loose at the waist and tight at the hip will travel upward all day. A lining helps considerably, since most riding up is the cloth gripping tights rather than the fit itself. For a softer line at the same length, see knee-length plaid skirts.