Here’s three ways to wear the black pencil dress. The easy chic way is a true lifesaver, while my personal choice is the fashion pro twist. It has something to do with tons of casual hints, absolute comfort and a dash of office-friendly chic. This is little black dress, streetwise.
Fitted black pencil dresses are timeless enough, right? Normally, I couldn’t care less about them. Who wakes up in the morning to say, ‘hey, I feel like gettin’ m’self a pencil dress today’. Of all things. But, here comes the ‘but’ part. Even though you may not need one, strictly speaking, I honestly think everyone should have one. Let’s go through the three basic approaches to wearing the pencil dress. It’s quite likely that, for most of us, at least one of them can work miracles.
Pencil dress look 1: Girl boss
First, the most traditional way to wear the black pencil dress is with stiletto courts (yes, those Louboutins). Add a smart designer bag and any kind of blazer for the office. Believe it or not, I still see women peeptoeing about in this type of look when they want to make an impression. Plus, this outfit would provide a seamless transition to eveningwear. When I say most traditional, I also mean it’s most attractive to men who like to see girls wielding classic weapons of seduction. Needless to say, I’m not that type. And, after a couple of hours it becomes really hard to stay fearlessly feminine with those aching feet. Well, each to their own.
Pencil dress look 2: Easy chic
Next, it’s easy chic. Here, the black pencil dress is a real lifesaver. Sometimes, I want a classic and smart look but will not compromise on comfort. I just want it clean, sleek and perfect, without the fuss – and, without all the attention high heels tend to earn. Not fierce enough? You bet. But when I want to keep my concentration where it belongs (say, work), and need others’ attention on what I say, I like to avoid certain distractions. By throwing on the dress, a pair of smart flats (Gucci loafers, smart backless loafers or some pointy toes), and a boyish blazer or jacket, I tick all the boxes, I’m ready for anything, and even save myself time in the morning.
Pencil dress look 3: The twist
Finally, the fashion pro approach, which is always about the twist. It’s either walking a fine line or creating shameless clashes, but in the end, it’s coming up with something that’s fresh, unexpected, memorable, and serves the purpose. In this look, I used prints and blocks of white to shake everything up as the black pencil dress can hold it all together. If I wanted the same feel but with a look that’s a bit smarter, I would just swap the leopard skaters for the black croc leather ones with white soles. Florals nearly always make a comeback in the summer but when I’ve had my fill, I just update this look with some other jacket. The options are endless, from classic khaki bombers through sporty stripes to embroidered, just take your pick.
Cheers,
Gabi
pencil dress: H&M
floral bomber: some cheap market buy
backpack: New Look
leopard skaters: ASOS
iron necklace: River Island
Photography: Laszlo Kubak
