It's Time to Reconsider the Pencil Skirt

She’s cool now!

The Fall 2023 runways were a pretty good indicator that the mini skirt’s rule was coming to an end — it may not be gone, but it certainly doesn’t have as strong of a grip on fashion as it has for what feels like an eternity (read: a few seasons) now. Hemlines are starting to fall; and beyond the full, maxi styles that proliferated across the autumnal debuts, another silhouette has been quietly taking hold.

The humble pencil skirt gets a bad rep: Some see it as rigid, uncomfortable, weird-fitting, relegated to the blandest of corporate environments, belonging within the second half of the 20th century. But lately, clever creatives have been playing with these biases and subverting them in, frankly, very wearable ways: loosening them up, cutting them, adding colors to them, embellishing them, smocking them, and so on.

Prada has been a big proponent of updating the historically stuffy silhouette, especially in the Miuccia/Raf era. The brand’s Spring 2023 collection has leather and printed satin pencil skirts, as well as dresses fitted in the same shape. And even as the design duo pushed the full-skirt agenda on its Fall 2023 runway, there were a handful of new riffs on the style there, too.

Givenchy also has a few different ones — from ruched to wrapped to textured — for spring, while Valentino and Nensi Dojaka have fully sequined options and Moschino presented some with floatie hems. (Ah, Jeremy Scott.)

Nensi Dojaka, Prada, Valentino Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree

The Fall 2023 runways — including Gucci and Tory Burch — and the street style outside of them, further confirmed that the pencil skirt has undergone a rebrand, and that it’s time to get on board. So, shop some of our favorite ones on the market right now, below. Prepare to be surprised (and don’t forget to pick up a chic pair of pumps, too).

J. Crew No. 3 Pencil Skirt in Gingham Bi-Stretch Cotton, $118, available here (sizes 00-24)

Kate Spade Duchess Satin Pencil Skirt, $248, available here (sizes 0-16)

Self Contrast Slim Trouser Skirt, $130, available here (sizes XXS-XL)

Dries Van Noten Printed Pleated Pencil Skirt, $471 (from $785), available here (sizes 2-12)

Ganni Smocked Satin Skirt, $475, available here (sizes 0-14)

Hanifa Camille Ruched Skirt, $139, available here (sizes XS-3XL)

LaQuan Smith Nylon Pencil Skirt, $800, available here (sizes S-XL)

Conner Ives Frayed Organic Denim Maxi Skirt, $395, available here (sizes XS-L)

Tanya Taylor Bryna Skirt, $255, available here (sizes 00-14)

Victor Glemaud Laser-Dot Pencil Skirt, $320, available here (sizes XS-XL)

Simon Miller Pluto Stretch Maxi Skirt, $215, available here (sizes XS-L)

Tibi Sheer Metallic Speckle Pencil Skirt, $695, available here (sizes 00-14)