I remember my first shopping trip for “work clothes” during my senior year at Radford- Matt & I went to Macy’s (because, being the fashion disaster I am, it was the only place I knew to go) and I brought armfuls of blazers, skirts, suits, and workdresses into the dressing room with me. And I remember putting on a particularly boring black skirt suit, and staring at myself in the mirror, and then bursting into tears. I didn’t want to dress like a vanilla, corporate person, but I didn’t know what else to do. What’s a twenty-something to do when they want to look professional but still ENJOY what they’re wearing?

Cue: the JCrew Pencil Skirt! You all know how much I love clean, classic style, and the pencil skirt is an embodiment of that aesthetic I so desperately love. It’s figure flattering, and for someone like me who lacks curves, it creates an illusion of shape. I just FEEL prettier in a pencil skirt! It’s modest, so I never have to worry about it being too short, and they’re so versatile! You can pair a pencil skirt with something more casual like a chambray button-up, or something a bit more formal like a white dress shirt. Women have been sporting pencil skirts since the 1940’s (my favorite era!), and wearing one makes me carry myself with a bit more attention to my posture. Plus, I love that I can wear the same skirt in both wedges/heels or flats, and it still looks great.

I’m obviously not in the corporate world anymore, but that just means I can get even more creative with the colors and patterns I buy- I spoke to a class of senior Communication students at Radford last week and rocked my favorite skirt, a navy and white polka-dotted number I found at the JCrew Factory store. I’ll occasionally wear this one to shoot weddings, too! I’m a firm believer that every woman needs a black pencil skirt in their closet, just in case, but I LOVE them in any color I can find.

Photo credit goes to my lovely friend Kaitlyn, who will be on the blog tomorrow :).

What about ladies? Do you have a favorite go-to skirt in your closet?