Chic New Yorkers Avoid Pairing Pencil Skirts with Flats—Opting Instead for This Heel Trend.

Chic New Yorkers Avoid Pairing Pencil Skirts with Flats—Opting Instead for This Heel Trend.

      If your skirt collection feels lacking in 2026, especially in comparison to pants, shorts, and dresses, let me introduce you to the one silhouette you should consider for a trendy look this year. Pencil skirts have become prominent in the skirt category, seen on celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid, as well as on the runways of designers like Toteme, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Khaite, and others. Currently, everyone influential in fashion is either creating pencil skirts or wearing them, but there's one key rule to follow. No fashion authority is pairing pencil skirts with flats; that's simply not happening. Instead, they're opting for heels, and one particular style stands out: heeled mules.

      This combination was recently showcased by actress Camila Morrone, who is promoting her new Netflix horror film, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. Morrone was seen in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday sporting an all-black look (her favored color scheme during the film's press tour) from Max Mara, featuring a cropped mock-neck sweater with elbow-length sleeves and a corresponding pencil skirt, both hailing from the Italian brand's spring/summer 2026 collection. To complete her pencil skirt outfit, she and her stylist, Emma Jade Morrison, selected a pair of sky-high heeled mules with a subtle peep-toe detail from Black Suede Studio.

      What makes heeled mules an excellent match for pencil skirts is their ability to elongate the foot and leg, which is crucial when wearing a skirt that ends at the knee. While a miniskirt can contribute to a tall appearance, pencil skirts can easily make someone look shorter if paired with the wrong shoes, regardless of height. Heeled mules are the best solution, with tall versions like Morrone's appearing just as refined and stylish as kitten-heel alternatives, offering both comfort and versatility. Below, you can recreate Morrone's ensemble and check out the finest pencil skirts and heeled mules available this season.

      Pencil Skirts + Heeled Mules Outfit

      Get Camila's Look

      Commando

      Ballet Body Cropped Crewneck Tee

      MANGO

      Wool-Blend Midi-Skirt

      BLACK SUEDE STUDIO

      Shania 100 Satin Mule

      Shop Pencil Skirts

      Willy Chavarria X Zara

      Wool Blend Pencil Midi Skirt

      KHAITE

      Kendra Denim Skirt

      NOUR HAMMOUR

      Paneled Leather Pencil Skirt

      English Factory

      High Waist Column Midi Skirt

      MANGO

      Croc-Effect Midi-Skirt

      Shop Heeled Mules

      Tony Bianco

      Sicily Pointed Toe Mule

      Jimmy Choo

      Brigitte Peep Toe Mule

      Shopbop

      Staud Brigitte High Wedge Sandals

      Anne Klein

      Cassia Kitten Heel Mule

      The Row

      Liiisa Pointed Toe Kitten Heel Mule

      Aquazzura

      Secret Peep Toe Mule Heels

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Chic New Yorkers Avoid Pairing Pencil Skirts with Flats—Opting Instead for This Heel Trend.

Apologies, but flats with a pencil skirt simply don't resonate in 2026. On the other hand, heeled shoes complement the silhouette flawlessly every time.