You knew I couldn’t pass up the Canterbury Bells Pencil Skirt. I bought the mini (Style #26581) in a size 6 but I really wanted to try the pencil skirt.
Canterbury Bells Pencil Skirt – Style #26359 – $98.00 – Size 0-14 – The length is supposed to be the “slightly shorter 21″ length for summer” according to J Crew. So let’s take a look and compare it.
Compared with two other recent J Crew Pencil Skirts, the Watercolor Garden Pencil Skirt and Turkish Delight Pencil Skirt. Notice the length difference…3″.
So, this is one duplicate print I won’t be keeping. I’m returning the mini because I’ll get more use out of the pencil skirt. I do love the “new summer length” though. I know some of you taller ladies may not but it saves us shorties a trip to the tailor.
Oh, and look how my Paper Poplin shirt was packaged. It was tied in a knot. Weird huh?
Have a great weekend!
Oh, I love the length of this skirt. The pattern is so pretty.
I do love the skirt! Maybe the shirt is packaged that way to keep the "texture"? Have a great saturday, it is gorgeous here in New England! I hope it is in TX!
I love this pattern. Both skirts look great on you. I've seen the mini, so it would be a hard choice for me between the two.
Are the fabrics the same of the two skirts?
Wicked CUTE SKIRT~Canterbury Print is TDF!!! You do look fabilis in the Pencil Skirts–I can see why you luve em! 🙂
Thanks for the review;) I bought the pencil skirt. For those ladies thinking of getting this skirt-it has a basket weave fabric. I wasn't expecting that.
Thank you Pamela!
Kathy – We're expecting rain. At least it will be nice weather somewhere. I'm not complaining though. We'll get our "nice" weather soon enough for the rest of the summer.
Cleo – The fabric is the same for both. They are both cotton and lined and have a basket-weave texture, like Holly stated below.
yogagirl – Thank you! They are my favorite.
Holly – Do you like the basket-weave? Have you worn your's yet?
You look GREAT in this skirt! I purchased it, too. I'm taller, so I like the longer length skirts, but there's enough fabric to have the hem taken out. Also, I'm glad to know that I'm not the only person who buys multiple items in one print (though I know that you're returning the mini)!
This is great on you. I am glad you kept the pencil as opposed to the mini. Both look good but I think the pencil will be more versatile.
I passed on this skirt becuase I think its too close to the indigo floral from last year, which I have. I tried on a friend's size 6 though (I'm normally a 4) and I was surprised to find that it fit pretty well lower on the waist and gave me a decent length, without looking too big in the hip/butt. It seems to be cut pretty slim, so those of you who are tall may want to size up.
Rynetta, let me know if you have success with letting the hem down. I took a similar pencil skirt to my tailor and she was unable to do it. The hem fabric on many is cut away at a diagonal where the walking slit is, which means there is a chunk of hem missing when you try to take it down.
I didn't like it at first. I'm getting used to it. Haven't worn it yet as It arrived on Friday. I was just expecting it to be like the purple watercolor pencil skirt.
I was really skeptical about ordering the pencil skirt as I thought it may be too short.It looks absolutely fabulous on you! I'm going to wait for a promo code before I order it 🙂
Hope u are having a nice weekend
Desert Flower,
You make an excellent point; I did not think about the slit. I'll let you know what happens. I may just have to deal with the shorter length!
Canterbury pencil skirt looks really nice on you.
I ordered this skirt knowing that I don't like 21" length. I hope I can take the hem down to make it longer.
I just bought the pencil skirt too and I LOVE IT!!! I don't think I'm that short (5'6) but the new 21" length feels sooo much more comfortable to me than J.Crew's normal 24" pencil skirt. I just bought the Impressionist pencil skirt as well and it feels just as amazing and comfortable, so I've concluded that 21" in pencil skirts is the way to go for me. Love the floral prints J.Crew has been doing recently. Thanks for all the comparison shots!
Rynetta/Simply J Crew – I hope you're able to add some length to it.
Desert Flower – Thanks! I agree it doesn't make the booty look to big (which is why I added the rear shot).
Miss Masala – Thanks!
Crewlade – The 21" is my perfect length. And it stays put/doesn't ride up when you sit down.
I ordered both the canterbury and impressionist pencil skirts, hoping they would still work by going up a size and wearing it lower on the hips. Unfortunately on my 5'9" frame my legs appear the same way yours do when you wore the Canterbury mini. When I did the sit test, it was thighs, thighs, pale thighs! The top of the back slits felt/looked dangerously close to the bum. Darn. I really like both prints, but I wouldn't be able to wear either to church or work. I could only wear them for running errands and for the prices, they are not worth the limited use. There isn't enough fabric under the hem to make much of a difference. The impressionist and canterbury skirts look great on you!
OT info for others: The canterbury is 100% with a tweed like basket weave as Audrey said. The impressionist skirt is 98% cotton and 2% spandex. Of the two skirts the impressionist had more give as one would expect. Both are beautiful prints.
This is a beautiful skirt. The fabric and pattern are great, and you look terrific!
So I am really quite sad to return mine. 🙁
I am 5'9" tall. Its just too short for me. I looked at the hem and the slit to consider alterations, but I think its a no go. Sad.