What To Do With That Boring ‘Ole Black Work Skirt

Do you have a short black skirt for work in your closet since…forever? My recent challenge was to create a fresh new summer work outfit with mine. And here it is!

If you’ve cultivated a work wardrobe, I’ll bet you’re harboring a skirt just like this one. It’s not exactly a pencil skirt, because it’s very narrow enough at the bottom. And yet, it’s a staple.

Giving the skirt a purpose

At one time, I updated this skirt by having the hem raised. It previously hit my legs at an unflattering (dowdy-looking) spot. Even after that, I was uninspired seeing it on the hanger. My inspiration weaned even further when I recently to started wanting to wear lighter, brighter colors.

However, I now have to say that this piece just rose in my estimation! While a below-the-knee pencil skirt with a longer blouse makes my legs appear shorter and my torso seem extra long, a shorter hem creates balance.

Leg-lengthening heels

Add to the mix a pair of high-heeled light-colored (“nude” in my pale case!) pumps, and it’s as if I had leg extensions. Vavoom!

It’s a perfect summer work outfit: cheery and yet professional and polished-looking. On our recent European holiday, I scored this ivory silk top by Favio Castellani. It’s so delicate and makes for a beautiful silhouette, cinching at the waist and slightly flaring at the bottom.

The jacket

I picked up this bright pink blazer in Barcelona. You might recall from THIS POST that pink yarrow was on the Pantone list of this spring/summer’s hottest colors.

A finishing touch is an Italian silk scarf which I tied in a bow. I have to admit that unconsciously I was sort of copying a colleague who both has very curly hair and an enormous scarf collection. (Since our vacation, I started letting my hair do its own thing.) I suppose that is the highest form of flattery, right?

I hope you like my styling of this potentially boring black work skirt. I read some advice once that you should discard any item of clothing you haven’t worn in at least a year. If that were the case, this skirt would be toast. Thank goodness I don’t take all the advice I read!

I wore: Flavio Castellani silk top / Tahari skirt / Massimo Dutti blazer / Ted Baker pumps / Plinio Visona backpack / Balenciaga sunglasses