Pencil skirt (in detail)
Also known as: Pencil skirt, Cigarette skirt, Fitted straight skirt
Slim, body-hugging straight-line skirt with walking slit — the classic business and corporate-wear cut since the 1950s.
Description
The pencil skirt is a body-hugging straight-cut skirt that runs slim and figure-following from waist to hem. A walking slit is characteristic — typically 8–15 cm at centre back or as a hidden inverted-pleat slit — which is what actually allows normal walking, since the close-fitting hem would otherwise block stride.
The cut was popularised by Christian Dior in 1954 as part of the "H line" and remains the world's most important business skirt shape. Standard length sits just below the knee (midi length has been common again since 2015). For sitting comfort and fit the pencil skirt normally features two to four back darts and a concealed zip in the centre-back seam. Materials: structured wool gabardine, cotton sateen, Ponte Roma and modern stretch blends with 2–5 % elastane provide movement without sag.
- Silhouette: straight, close to body, no volume
- Length: just below the knee (classic) or midi
- Walking slit: 8–15 cm at centre back
- Fit: 2–4 darts, concealed zip
Properties
| Silhouette | straight, close to body |
|---|---|
| Length | knee length or midi |
| Walking slit | 8–15 cm at centre back |
| Preferred fabrics | Wool gabardine, sateen, stretch blends |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Wikipedia: Pencil skirt Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil_skirt
- Dior H-line 1954 Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Dior
