Pencil It In

The designer,who admits to obsessing over the shape for a few seasons now,says,“The pencil skirt accentuates the feminine form. I feel it also symbolises a strong woman who is confident of her femininity.

Its clean lines demand great pattern-cutting skills and good tailoring,which is why I think it is a very luxurious,classic fashion staple.”

Espousing clean lines,yet leaning towards the dramatic,the structured and simple shape of the pencil skirt is also drawing the attention of designers like Yogesh Chaudhary of Surendri. “The simplicity in cut does allow for a lot more experimentation,addition of volume or texture without adding unnecessary bulk to the body. Even a simple change in shade can completely revamp a look,” says Chaudhary,who introduced a vibrant orange number with a frolicky fishtail in his Spring-Summer line.

Designer duo Shivan & Narresh,too,have taken to the silhouette in a big way. While their Spring-Summer collection has pencil skirts in hand-painted linen and jersey with candy-striped side panels,their Autumn-Winter 2013 line carries a monochromatic number with a front slit and their Naive art-inspired jewelled face around the belt. Instantly formal,yet playful. “It makes for the perfect silhouette base to experiment with different fabrics,from easy linens and cottons to structural neoprenes and silhouette defining jerseys,” says Shivan.

For those with more creative pursuits,the pencil skirt doubles up as a versatile canvas for prints and surface embellishments. Rimzim Dadu,who works with non-traditional material and intricate textures,took over-sized marble sequins,hand-painted them and then sewed them on to a lime green column skirt for her Summer-Resort 2013 line. “Its basic shape allows for experimentation and makes it easy to apply texture to it,” says Dadu. For someone who doesn’t go for flounce or frills,the sleek shape also spells power. “It’s not too frilly and feminine. One can simply throw on a jacket for an androgynous look or wear a quirky top with it. I’d team it with an over-sized t-shirt or even a georgette ruffled blouse,” she says.

This ability to be dressed up and down as per the whims of the wearer also lends the pencil skirt a distinct edge. “The garment is easy to wear,which makes it perfect for a casual affair,but also has the right amount of formality in its cut and silhouette,which widens its scope for wearability,” attests Narresh.

With a shape that’s likely to go from a summer style statement to a winter wardrobe essential,designers advocate some degree of restraint while donning the pencil skirt. While being trim and toned is a pre-requisite for this fits-like-a-glove number,the right kind of shapewear is a must too,according to Sailex. “The correct length is the clincher — whether it ends just over the knee,at the knee,at mid-calf or lower-calf depends on an individual’s height and structure. My personal tip is that a pencil skirt should never be too short. A thigh-level skirt is not a pencil skirt; it’s a tight mini skirt.” With Manish Arora,Ranna Gill,Shantanu & Nikhil,Hemant & Nandita and Sanchita Ajjampur offering exciting Autumn-Winter options of the skirt,Narresh

recommends: “Keep it simple and effortless,that is

all that the silhouette demands.”