1. Cate Blanchett

Here, Cate Blanchett gives the ladylike pencil skirt a modern twist. She wears a Peter Pilotto peplum top with a sleek black pencil skirt. Her embellished heels complement the embellishment on her top, but other than that, she keeps the rest of her accessories fairly simple. If you’re going to compare celebrities to see who wore it best, Blanchett is going to be a tough contender to beat.

2. Sandra Bullock

If you think the pinstripe pencil skirt is for corporate wear only, then take a look at the way Sandra Bullock wears one at the People’s Choice Awards. She teams her pencil skirt with a blue lace corset and defines her waist with a slim patent belt. Her bright pink pumps and matching lipstick add a much needed pop of colour to the entire ensemble.

3. Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde wears her pencil skirt in a prim and proper manner. The light colours of this outfit make it great for wearing during the day but the sequin embellishments add that extra bit of glamour. The bow details on her shoes also add that extra ladylike touch to her outfit.

4. Rihanna

Here, Rihanna teams her pencil skirt with a cropped tank top. The combination of black and white is simple and very on-trend. This is probably one of Rihanna’s more demure looks, despite the bared midriff. And while I’m sure the bottom of the skirt was designed to be crinkled, I can’t help but wish that someone had ironed it out!

5. Miranda Kerr

Bold, graphic prints have been pretty popular lately. Here, model Miranda Kerr wears a printed Balenciaga pencil skirt. She teams her pink printed skirt with black separates and accessories. Since the print on the pencil skirt does all the talking, keeping the rest of her accessories fairly simple was a smart move.

6. Kate Beckinsale

This is a summery colour blocked outfit from Kate Beckinsale. The bright blue skirt and peach top complement each other nicely and the studded pumps give the outfit a bit of edge. She’s chosen separates that have a relaxed, slouchy cut, which gives the whole outfit a more casual edge. The pulled back hair and high ponytail complete the fresh and playful look.

7. Olivia Palermo

Olivia Palermo looks ready to hit the town in this statement-making metallic ensemble. She teams a lace pencil skirt with a fringed vest, compact clutch, and basic pumps. Since the clothes themselves are fairly statement-making, she opts for minimal jewellery with a gold cuff on one wrist. This outfit is a great example of mixing textures in an interesting way.

As you can see, these are all very different takes on styling the pencil skirt. Some are very classic ladylike looks while others are much more modern. When it comes to the pencil skirt, who do you think wore it best?