Fashion: Pencil sharpener

Photo / Greg Bowker

In a season of tomboyish and oversized separates, a fitted silhouette stands out.

If there's anything Kim Kardashian is good at, it's knowing how to dress for her body shape. The celebrity who has opened every facet of her life to public scrutiny, ensures she is always dressed impeccably - all the more opportunity for better pictures.

Her wardrobe might vary from her own Kardashian Kollection chainstore designs to French designer powerhouses such as Lanvin, Balmain and Givenchy but Kim K's formula for dressing her curves is to focus on body-skimming pencil dresses and skirts that reach her knee or below, complete with strappy heels and statement jewels.

It's a silhouette that peaked in the mid-to-late noughties, when designers such as Roland Mouret, with his signature Galaxy dress, spawned a glut of mainstream knock-offs and the late L'Wren Scott's pencil shapes were a welcome option for tall women. Even Victoria Beckham's signature sheath dresses with inner corsetry made a strong impact with their pencil-shaped debut in 2008.

The silhouette's current revival is less formal, as designers develop new stretch fabrics that are less restrictive and in line with fashion's ongoing obsession with sportswear.

Sydney-based label Camilla and Marc have included several pencil shapes in their new-season collection, including a sporty halter-neck number from diffusion line C&M (#1) finished with an interesting strappy back detail. For a pencil skirt that goes past the knee, the best option this season comes from the black mid-calf stretch option from Caroline Sills (#6). Worn with that ubiquitous strappy ankle stiletto (a good heel to balance out the density of a full pencil skirt), it's the perfect piece to pair with a matching black top or a crisp white shirt for the classic black and white look that will never date.

Photos / Greg Bowker

From left:
1 C&M dress, $280. Trelise Cooper necklace, $69. Chaos & Harmony heels, $349.
2 Itzme top, $265. Liam skirt, $239. Paula Ryan necklace, $695. Sol Sana heels, $235.
3 Camilla and Marc dress, $780. Sol Sana heels, $280. Chain, $12, from The Third Eye.

Photos / Greg Bowker

From left:
4 World dress, $555. Kathryn Wilson heels, $299. Kagi pearl bracelet, $125, ear-hugger earrings, $55 and pearl drops, $79.
5 Ruby dress, $99. Harman Grubisa mules, $599. Lewis Fredericks sunglasses, $435. Louis Vuitton Alma BB Malletage handbag, $5600.
6 Paula Ryan top, $300. Caroline Sills skirt, $204. Sol Sana heels, $250. Kagi chain, $199. Mimco bejewelled cuff holders, $90. Citta cafe chair, $339.