Call it the Carolyn Bessette Kennedy effect, but in 2026, pencil skirts have crept firmly back onto our agenda. Gone are the days when this style was considered purely office wear — over the past few seasons, fashion has recalibrated, favouring the narrower hemlines, cinched waists, and clean, vertical lines of the humble pencil skirt.
Several designers have been quietly reworking the silhouette. Gucci Resort 2026 saw an abundance of pencil skirt styles, rendered in everything from classic neutrals to punchy embossed leathers. Marc Jacobs Spring Summer 2026 followed suit, widening the proportions of the pencil skirts’ traditionally slimmer fit, and favouring heavier boucle and thick satin fabrications.
Dries Van Noten Fall Winter 2026 proved the pencil skirt can hang when it comes to bold prints, while at Chanel Spring Summer 2026, Matthieu Blazy doctored the style with frayed hemlines and feathered fringing, slung low on the hips.
And while these recent runways have marked a subtle departure from the pared-back black, beige, and grey iterations Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy made iconic in the ’90s, the ways the pencil skirt is infiltrating our wardrobes feels a little more CBK-coded. Fabrications hinge on simplicity, with leather and classic wool favourites for the upcoming winter season. Styling, too, thrives on restraint, with slim long-sleeves, oversized knits, thin belts, knee high boots, and pointed-toe heels proving the perfect accompaniments to the pencil skirt du jour. And while the pencil skirt is no longer exclusively relegated to the office, that doesn’t mean it isn’t still a chic option for your nine to five. Throw on a crisp white shirt and slip into some kitten heels and you’ve got yourself a corporate-coded look that still feels entirely of the moment.
Ready to make the trend your own? Shop our favourite new-season pencil skirt styles, below.
Shop our favourite pencil skirts
Pave Longline Skirt
MAX MARA Veranda Linen Midi Skirt
ST AGNI Paper Taffeta Column Skir
CAMILLA AND MARC Dawn Leather Skirt
COS Merino Wool-Blend Pencil Skirt
REFORMATION Layla Knee Length Skirt
ASSEMBLY LABEL Amaris Silk Skirt
HELSA Suede Column Skirt
MIMCHIK Rosie Skirt
VICTORIA BECKHAM Wrap Detail Skirt
POLO RALPH LAUREN Pencil Skirt
TOTEME Textured-leather maxi skirt
ALFIE PARIS The Erin Skirt
Stay inspired, follow us.
