Why do they call it a pencil skirt?

Tags

A-line, Christian Dior, Fashion, H-line, Pencil Skirt

I often wondered why the call it a pencil skirt and it terms out the slim-fitting skirt is named for its pencil-straight appearance … you know because it’s long and slim like a pencil with no waves or frills.

There are several different looks for a pencil skirt but in general it is is a slim-fitting skirt with a straight, narrow cut. Generally the hem falls to, or just below, the knee and is tailored for a close fit.

The designer Christian Dior originally used the term “H-line”, in the 1940s to describe its shape, distinguishing it from the full-skirted “A-line” style (after the relative shapes of the letters “H” and “A”). But the H-line skirt then became known by the more popular name pencil skirt.

The pencil skirt quickly became very popular, particularly for office wear. This success was due to women’s desire for new fashions in the wake of Second World War and Cold War rationing, coupled with the austere economic climate, when fabrics were expensive.

Here are some samples of different pencil skirts.

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