Pencil Skirts for Every Shape

If You Have Full Hips and Thighs

Make sure the skirt tapers, but just a bit. “If it goes straight down from the hips, you’ll resemble a square. Too pegged and you’ll look like a lightbulb,” says Raes. Pick a dark solid in a substantial cotton or lightweight wool that has some stretch. (Avoid bulky wool, brocade, or tweed.)

To try: This wool skirt by Brooks Brothers has a roomy fit through the hips but gently tapers at the hem. An acetate lining prevents clinging.

Wear it with: A tucked-in button-down or a belted cardigan will emphasize the narrowest part of the body. Aimee Wolpin-Evans, the women’s design director for Brooks Brothers, likes to add opaque tights in the same color as the skirt to create a long, lean line.