High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! A pencil skirt is a skirt with a straight and narrow cut, worn by women. It typically falls to or just below the knee, and is tailored for a close fit. Its name comes from its shape: long and slim.The pencil skirt is regarded as a classic fashion piece, and a western woman's wardrobe staple, either on its own or as part of a suit. Its narrow shape can restrict movement, so pencil skirts often feature a slit, usually at the back, but sometimes instead a back pleat which is considered more modest. The classic shoes for wearing with a pencil skirt are a pair of high heels, with sheer stockings or tights. Back-seamed hosiery matches well, recalling the classic pencil-skirt era of the 1950s.