So, pencil skirts. Love their clean, sleek silhouette. Perfect work-appropriate attire - structured and strong, but form-fitting and feminine at the same time. Classic shape that works no matter what your age. I love them and own nearly a dozen pencil skirts in different colors and patterns.
But why are they such a bitch to walk in?
I'm sure it's my own apparent klutziness, but I feel like I clomp around like a dizzy giraffe in pencil skirts. My legs swing about trying to get their stride but they're restricted by the skirt so I end up taking smaller "dainty" steps - which means I take a lot of really small steps really quickly. Walking up stairs is probably a comical sight if you're stuck behind me. Going down the stars in a pencil skirt and heels is almost a sideways adventure.
Oh the things we do for the sake of fashion.
Blazer: J.Crew Robert Noble herringbone (worn here - sim pricey, sim, deal)
Shirt: Deletta via Anthropologie pleated yoke (worn here - sim, wider stripes, as dress, flared dress)
Skirt: J.Crew factory double-serge (worn here - same longer, sim deal, steal)
Necklace: J.Crew gem stack (worn here - sim, grander, purple)
Bracelets: Rachel Leigh (worn here - sim striped, other colors)
Shoes: J.Crew paulina (worn here - sim, lighter)
Bag: Coach legacy flight (on sale, worn here - sim smaller, pricey, luxe)
(BTW, to those who celebrate, Happy Chinese New Year!)
Happy Chinese New Year! I don't really celebrate (only 1/4 Chinese) but it's an excuse to go eat Chinese food, right? I'm with you with pencil skirts but I love them. I tend to go for ones that are a bit stretchier so they are not quite as constricting and allow a bit more movement. But I have had to hop off a bus sideways more than once because of them. Love the necklace of course, I got one of my own before Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I've done - mm, mm!
DeleteThose shoes are to. Die. For.
ReplyDeleteI dunno, Lisa. I wear pencil skirts all the time and my students still tell me I walk with purpose (the kind version)/walk like I'm about to murder somebody (the awed version). Perhaps it's the material of the pencil skirt? Or whether or not it's got a vent in back? My BFF just recently learned that you have to snip the X-ed thread on the vent to let that there pencil skirt fly.
M @ http://www.myclosetcatalogue.com
I've got vents on most of my skirts and they are all open - does this mean that I just have the natural gate of a trucker, and am trying to masquerade as a lady, haha! ;o)
DeleteI'm not a pencil skirt owner mainly because I don't have much use for them. I think I own two but I completely understand your issue with them. One of mine is tight and it is definitely a *pain* to walk in. I'm not sure how you do it on a daily basis!
ReplyDeleteSmall steps - plus high heels naturally make me walk more "delicately," hehe.
DeleteI LOVE THIS OUTFIT, LISA!! You look so polished and professional. I have some pencil skirts that angle in more towards the knees and those are hard to walk in, but I guess I am just use to my others.
ReplyDeleteHaha I totally get what you mean! But they really are such a perfect piece of clothing in all other respects. You look fabulous, perfectly stylish for a day at the office!
ReplyDeleteShannon
Clothes & Quotes
I agree, that's why I keep wearing them and keep buying them!
Deleteyes, i totally agree. i also don't like sitting because they bunch in all the wrong places! but this one looks so amazing on you! i love the whole outfit!
ReplyDeleteI adore pencil skirts and wiggle dresses. The long 1960s number I wore for New Year's was quite the adventure to get in our SUV with. I had to sit on the side, then swing my legs around. I guess they need to give walking and sitting lessons when they sell pencil skirts.
ReplyDeleteI love this look and the colours again. Makes me think I need a navy blazer. Unbelievably I don't own one.
bisous
Suzanne
One of my co-workers has a raised truck with no runner boards and once when a few of us went out for lunch and he volunteered to drive, of course I was in a pencil skirt, so I almost had to crawl in belly-first into that thing! Real lady right here!
DeleteI love that necklace and it is perfect with this outfit. As Suzanne mentions above, I hate getting in and out of a high SUV in a pencil skirt. They look so good though.
ReplyDeleteTracy @Its Mostly About Fashion
Haha, Tracy. See above for my experience.
DeleteI love this outfit! I do not own but one pencil skirt. But I recently purchased the Lace Study Dress and now I am scared about walking up and down steps. Oh my gosh! I hope I can do it! Thanks for the warning!
ReplyDeleteJenni
Oh yeah, definitely taking the quick little steps in a pencil skirt haha, luckily we have no stairs in our school building!
ReplyDeleteLove the pumps. They are so unique.
ReplyDeletewww.highheelsandtutus.com
Love that skirt! Pencil skirts are definitely among my favorite work wardrobe items. I wore an oatmeal pencil skirt yesterday with a blue flannel shirt and a pearl necklace and got a bunch of compliments!
ReplyDeleteOoh, sounds like a nice combo!
DeleteThat is exactly why I don't wear many pencil skirts. And when I do, mine are knit, which still sucks for bike riding, but I can at least walk in them!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't imagine even getting on a bike in a pencil skirt!
DeleteSplendid outfit. I love how you brought everything together. The top and the shoes make the outfit so unusual. I can learn a lot from you. So why don't I? Would you like to be my personal stylist? LOL
ReplyDeleteGreetje
Haha, I've been told by some people that my style is "unusual" so I don't know if most people want me to style them. Plus I might steal your clothes! ;o)
DeleteI love unusual. There hardly ever is an outfit of yours I don't like, or better said: is not my taste
DeleteAbout stealing my clothes... somehow I have got the idea we don't have the same size haha. I have many clothes, but I get so easily bored with them (feeling ashamed about that... Spoiled bratt I am). If only I could style better..
Greetje
I love your skirt and I often wear pencil skirts myself. They are very versatile and you can have a different style just changing accessories...
ReplyDeleteI love this color palette Lisa. And that necklace goes so perfectly with this outfit!
ReplyDeleteMeredith
createthatoutfit.com
This whole outfit is beyond adorable -- I love the shoes and the necklace.
ReplyDeleteI actually love walking in pencil skirts. I think they improve my posture?! Anyway, I love your necklace and I really, really want to track down a pencil skirt in that rich berry color. This combination looks great on you! The shoes are a nice unexpected twist too...I love that print!
ReplyDeleteThey definitely make me more aware of walking in a certain way - I shouldn't be slouching and shuffling along in a pencil skirt and heels!
DeleteHAHAHA, oh Lisa this cracked me up so badly! I'm trying to think of how I walk in pencil skirts in case I can think of any tips, but I never thought of them as problematic...Maybe if you try wearing flats instead of heels with them, maybe that'll help you develop a more pencil-friendly gait? Or maybe you could open up the slit in the back a little bit?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, you look so lovely in this outfit, all the colours just play off each other so nicely, and those shoes are like jewels! So pretty! Well worth the sacrifice! ;)
On days where I know I'll be doing a bit of walking, for sure I don't wear a pencil skirt - that's how I've been getting by so far. ;o)
DeleteI love that you were completely honest and that you said bitch. It was awesome. So many times, bloggers worry about offending someone. You are SO right! But darn it all if you don't look absolutely gorgeous. The lovely wine colored bag is my favorite. I was so sure it was Kate Spade and it's Coach!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty.
-Ash
www.thestylizedwannabe.com
I am unfortunately a complete potty mouth face-to-face (keep the kiddies away!) - at least on the blog I can censor myself a bit more, haha.
DeleteI can actually totally sympathise with your thoughts on pencil skirts - I love the way they look (in fact, the colour of yours is just stunning) but walking in them is such a pain! I always wind up feeling restricted and then, frustrated. But they sure do look pretty. This outfit is gorgeous.
ReplyDeletexox,
Cee
Me too!
Deletepencil skirts can be inhibiting. lol i love them, but have large hips, so it always proves to be daunting. love your outfit lisa.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.averysweetblog.com/
Happy Lunar New Year! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the striped top with that pencil skirt :) I try get shorter pencil skirts to avoid the "baby steps" constraint, but I do have a few longer ones that aren't very stretchy and I do feel like I have to take tiny baby steps in them!
Away From Blue
I don't think I could manage a below-the-knee version!
DeleteI love the way pencil skirts look but don't really have much occasion to wear them. Plus, they always seem to move up my waist when I walk but I am probably not getting the correct size. Knee length a-lines are my favorite to wear but they just don't look as sophisticated as a pencil skirt.
ReplyDeleteLove the navy and wine color together, Lisa!
xo,cynthia
When I think about it, I don't think I own an A-line skirt - may need to change that!
DeletePencil skirts are really great :) They look polished but I agree walking in them sometimes are a pain in the butt :)
ReplyDeletekatattack2000.wordpress.com
Love this look - especially your shoes!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Lisa! I am addicted to pencil skirts and find that if they have a bit of a stretch that I walk better in them. Those shoes are awesome!
ReplyDeleteAlice
www.happinessatmidlife.com
I love pencil skirts! The A-line ones are great too, they're wider and comfy but pencil skirts are sexy :) Love your berry colored skirt matching with the same colored bag :)
ReplyDeleteLove this outfit! You know I'm a huge pencil skirt fan as well :) And yes, walking up stairs or getting into my car can be a challenge lol
ReplyDeleteGorgeous colours! (darn it- I need to pay more attention to the necklaces- I want that sooooooo) I love pencil skirts, especially in rich colours, but I do try and avoid going up too many stairs in them!!
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this outfit, those pretty shoes and colorful necklace, the burgundy bag and even the skirt even if it´s difficult to walk in. ;)
ReplyDeleteThis outfit is just so spot on! I love the color combos and the necklace just brings everything together so nicely.
ReplyDeleteStacey
I guess I've been lucky in getting pencil skirts with built-in stretch, like the "scuba" pencil skirts I bought from LOFT last year. And I'm known for "walking with purpose," as well. I also think pencil skirts look super-cute with flats, so maybe that would work for you, too? http://librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/navy-burgundy-color-combo/
ReplyDeleteJen @ Librarian for Life & Style
Happy Lunar New Year to you! As much as I love pencil skirts, I only own one, a black basic pencil skirt. They're reserved for job interviews and the occasional day where I feel like I need "new" things to wear to work. It takes me almost twice the amount of time to walk in a pencil skirt from point A to B! I'm a pragmatist after all. :P
ReplyDeleteI hear what you are saying
ReplyDeleteLisa. They are hard to walk in and just wait s hemlines fall, it will get harder .. S they will put a slit it and thr can be awkwArd..ugh.
You look great in this ensemble. I love the color of the slkirt and the mix with that pretty stripe and luscious necklace.
Well done!
XX, Elle
http://mydailycostume.com
Delicious colour scheme !!! love it -
ReplyDeleteI have e few pencil skirts and the worst part of the day us getting into and out of a car!