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Once considered dated – reminiscent of women in ’80s power suits – the pencil skirt is now back in fashion with the fashion pack for AW26.
In fact, almost every brand offered its own take on the style at the recent shows. While some (Magda Butrym, Michael Kors Collection and MM6 Maison Margiela) opted for a classic feel in muted grays and black, others completely transformed the look.
Saint Laurent, for example, embraced a more glamorous aesthetic by cutting its pencil skirts from pure lace and styling them with tight, lingerie-inspired camis. Elsewhere, Chanel opted for the iconic bouclé fabric to put his own spin on the trend, and Etro decorated his pencil skirt with multicolored feathers.
The style is becoming increasingly popular even on the shopping streets. Searches for pencil skirts are up 33% John Lewis site in August compared to last year. Their now-viral red floral version of the trend was so popular that it sold out within just three weeks of its launch in June.
“It came back into stock in July due to popular demand and is once again almost completely sold out,” says Carrie Matthews, the brand’s Womenswear Buyer. “It’s proven to be the perfect transitional piece that customers obsess over as we move from summer to fall.”
The YOU Magazine fashion team are big fans of the trend: it’s perfect for modern office wear, but can also easily be made glamorous for evening drinks. The only problem is, thanks to its association with the 80s, one wrong style choice and it can look like you’re cosplaying as a banker.
Our advice is to stick to loose and effortless styles. Don’t pair it with anything too business-like (definitely not fitted blazers or pumps) and make it feel modern by embracing some color – rather than sticking to classic gray palettes.
Inspired to try the trend for yourself? Read on for our favorite ways to style a pencil skirt this season.
Add leather
Give the business look an extra dimension by adding some leather pieces. A boxy bomber jacket (like the one below) is a great option.
(Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
Embrace the 90s
Ditch the ’80s OTT aesthetic and opt for something more subdued and ’90s-inspired. A thick knitted cashmere cardigan is a good option. Roll up the sleeves and leave a few buttons undone to give it a relaxed, non-business look.
(Photo by Moritz Scholz/Getty Images)
Choose a bright color
If you’re going to opt for a more traditional pencil skirt and shirt combination, opt for pieces in bright colors rather than boring neutral tones to ensure the final look is modern and trendy.
(Photo by Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images)
