Vintage Skirts: Swing, Circle & Pencil

Our vintage skirts are designed in England and made by hand in Europe: swirling circle skirts with pockets, slim pencil skirts, and swing and yoke skirts made for dancing. Every one is cut to sit at your natural waist and made in stretch fabrics, in navy, wine, dark rose, petrol blue, black, red and gold.

Which retro skirt: circle, pencil or swing?

• Circle skirts are cut as a circle of fabric, so they fall in soft, swishy folds from a cinched waist. Ours have deep hidden pockets and a back zip, and measure about 66 cm from the natural waist.
• Pencil skirts are slim and close to the body, in stretchy bengaline with an inverted back pleat so you can walk. They measure about 29 inches from the natural waist, so the hem falls below the knee.
• Swing and yoke skirts are the ones to wear for Lindy Hop and swing dancing. The swing skirt is made in four panels, and the yoke skirt is fitted over the hips with a three-quarter circle skirt below; both are in a drapy crepe with a touch of stretch.

Why is it called a swing skirt?

Because it swings: swing skirts are full enough to sway and swirl as you move. A pencil skirt is named for its shape too, long and slim like a pencil. Full or narrow: those were the two shapes of 1950s skirts, and you will find both here, along with 1940s swing styles.

How to wear a vintage skirt

Pair a high-waisted skirt with a top that finishes at the waist. A tucked-in blouse, a tie top or a cropped cardigan from our tops and blouses all work, and a Bardot top looks good with a circle skirt. If you prefer a dress, see our swing dresses or browse all of our dresses.

Our skirts come in UK sizes 8 to 18 (see the size guide) and can be machine washed at 30 degrees and ironed on the reverse.