Five of the best... pencil skirts

I've been getting a deluge (okay, a small but constant trickle but a girl can dream) of questions lately about pencil skirts. And I'm not suprised, it's not hard to miss them as they are all over the place right now.

And luckily, they're not hard to wear either. Here are my thoughts:

You can wear them with virtually any top - although they work best with pretty blouses.

They look better on curvy figures - why should the beanpoles always have all the fun?

I don't care how long your legs are, pencil skirts do not work with flats.

I love them high waisted and cinched with a big belt.

You should get extra style points if they're in a bold colour, like the cobalt skirt from Wallis.



Here are my fave five:

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From top to bottom: Topshop red satin, £30; Wallis cobalt blue, £30; Oasis high waist, £40, Jaeger tweed with leather piping, £165; Coast belted, £85

See:

How to wear a pencil skirt well

Wear with... M&S Limited Collection pencil skirt

Wear with... M&S Limited Collection high waist pencil skirt

Reading the latest issue of Vogue, I was fascinated by an article on work wear. As a result I have been spending quite a lot of time thinking about how you wear work-appropriate clothes and still retain any individual style.

It's hard enough if you work in relatively creative spheres such as marketing or media but I really pity city girls and lawyers. Suits and more suits - I say this from one remove of course, I have no way of knowing except from my limited observation.

Anyway, with the work wear issue firmly in mind, I've chosen this M&S pencil-skirt. It's the business, obviously, but it's also got that subtle sexiness that makes it anything but drab and boring. Perfect for working a day to night look

Working day...

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Topshop blouse, £35; Schuh courts, £49.99; Jasper Conran bag, £65

Take one pencil skirt, add a grown-up blouse with bit of character and colour, team with a substantial bag and subtle shoes... You look work ready and stylish. I just have to mention that I adore this bag from Jasper Conran at Debenhams, chick, affordable and big enough to fit your files in. Result.

... and night

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River Island Cami, £24.99; Kurt Geiger shoes, £160; Dorothy Perkins clutch, £15

Let out your in inner Jessica Rabbit by adding some va va voom. Keep the skirt, add a sexy cami, and cute shoes (my first choice would be peep toes, but in the absence of those, these Kurt Gieger numbers with the delicious red heels are more than up to the task). Add a dainty bag in a bold colour, this season it's all about the clutch (I've chosen red. Plus ca change).

See: Five of the best... pencil skirts

I want it now! Topshop wide-legged trousers, £75

Is it insane that I find these wide-legged trousers from Topshop Unique totally lust worthy? Because I do. I really do. I've been lamenting about a lack of wide-legs - especially in anything other than grey or black - so these are like a dream come true.

They are just so disco-tastic. Especially the lamé ones, which I can already see myself wearing with a fitted, bell-sleeved, satin shirt with enormous lapels. Or a one shouldered top and a sequined beret and enormous platforms. In fact, I've got just the shoes. So retro. So Biba.

Call me crazy but I must have them.

I love my corset

Vamp it up:
Fairy Goth Mother Steel boned underbust corset, £145

This week, I finally took delivery of my very first corset. Exciting or what? I honestly don't know why it's taken me so long. Yes, with starting prices just shy of £100, they're not cheap, but now I own one, I have got to say they are fabulous.

First of all, the actual shopping experience was great. The girlies at Fairy Goth Mothers (thank you ladies!) were fabulous; helping me try on different styles, trussing me in and showing me how lace it up myself. They even gave the bloke a go.

Corsets give you an amazing shape. I haven't been a size 10 in a long while, but in a corset I have a 26 inch waist. Even better, I've still go my curves. Once you get the hang of them they're not that fiddly to put on and, contrary to popular belief, they are actually a lot more comfortable than you think.

Then there's just the sheer drama of the item - there's something about wearing a corset that just adds up to instant vamp. In my corset, I am Betty Page, Deeta Von Teese and Jessica Rabbit all rolled into one. I put it on and out comes the red lippy, liquid eyeliner and sky-scraper heels. It's that kind of garment.

I got an underbust corset, which basically means I can wear it underneath clothing or on the outside as a belt. Perfect. And it's black so I intend to wear it with everything. Watch out world.

Elegantly waisted

I am so in love with the new high-waisted look in the shops right now. Now, let me say right up front, I am not a skinny girl, but the right fit in a high waist can give you a great hour-glass figure, especially if you've got an apple shape like mine. I bought a great pair of high-waisted denim shorts, £24.99, from H&M recently (see image left). Wearing them is just like putting on a corset, sucks you right in.

Come to think of it, H&M are doing some great high-waist styles on everything from skirts to trousers. Also, check out Warehouse, whose high-waist skirt with braces, has been flying from their stores (see image right) .

Preen also have this lovely high-waist skirt for Topshop, £60 (below left).

Best way to wear them is with a nice slim-fit jersey top or tee, or if you're a skinny Minny, try a silk or satin smock top.