The pleated skirt, which has been away from the fashion pages for a long time, has made such a comeback that it is incredible. The pleated skirt, which used to be worn only by college students and older women, has now become indispensable in women’s wardrobes for both daily and stylized elegance. However, whether it suits everyone or which pieces to pair it with, I will answer these questions in this article.
Style Rules for Pleated Skirts
Pleated skirts are mostly made of thin fabrics. Fabrics are usually synthetic because pleats disappear after washing in natural fabrics
Popular materials are polyester, satin, tulle, and chiffon, but also leather or silk. Especially pastel colors or transparent skirts with opaque petticoats are very fashionable right now. For those who like it more flashy, metallic colors and sequins are perfect. However, there are a few things to consider when wearing this skirt to make the outfit look perfect.
4 Criteria for Sophisticated Elegance
Correct Width
The pleats can make your hips look especially thick. If your skirt is narrow, the lower parts will open like a fan and the resulting image will be unaesthetic. So, if you have wide hips (pear shape), you can eliminate this problem by choosing a slightly wider A-line model. If you want to know what A-line is, then take a look at my article The Most Flattering Dresses For Your Body Type.
Correct Length
Let me now move on to the second criterion: adequate length. If your legs are thin, any length will suit you, whether mini or maxi. However, if you have thick calves, do not choose a midi length. Because these skirts that end right at the calf will draw attention there and make you look even thicker. On the other hand, if you are short, skirts that end right at your ankle are ideal for you. If you are tall and slim, then the maxi length is for you.
The Right Style
If your star piece for a stylized elegance is a pleated skirt, then other pieces should take a back seat. Do not use too striking patterns on tops, blouses and jackets.
The Right Combination
In fact, the pleated skirt gives a somewhat conservative image, as I said at the beginning of my article, it is associated with either innocent young girls or women of age. Just keep a few style tips in mind to look cool and trendy by combining them with the right pieces. First of all, please forget the ballerinas and flashy tops. They really mismatch with pleated skirts.
Pleated Skirt Models Suitable for Body Types
Women with a pear body and large hips, plus size or curvy body can achieve a great slimming effect with correctly combined pleated skirts. A-line midi skirts are the best way to hide problem areas such as hips and thighs. Tuck your blouse or t-shirt into a high-waisted pleated skirt and you will get the perfect hourglass figure.
Petite women can also use this little trick: they can choose a shorter model in combination with high heels to make them look taller. But be careful: The disadvantage of mini skirts is that they emphasize the hips and you should therefore have slender legs. If you want to choose a longer skirt, remember that the model should end at the narrowest point of the legs. Because this makes you look taller and automatically creates a slimmer silhouette.
How to Combine Pleated Skirts?
With the right combinations, it is in your hands to turn even an ordinary skirt into a star. But remember this. Tuck all tops into the skirt, except for oversized sweaters.
Romantic Style
You can create a romantic look with a pleated skirt in pastel colors such as pale pink, light blue or white. The skirt can be tulle or partially transparent. Wide, box pleated skirts also look elegant. You can make the romantic style, which pairs great with sneakers or sandals, more feminine with heels. As a bag model, I recommend you The New York Social Diary Madison bag, which is part of my new 2023 collection. The black & pink variation of the Madison bag, which combines both romantic and sporty elegance, will be the perfect choice for romantic style.
My combination suggestions for Romantic Style: knotted blouses, denim jackets, sneakers, sandals, heels, Emré NewYork Madison Pink & Black Shoulder Bag
Trendy Look
Metallic pleated skirts made of leather or with an asymmetrical cut are very fashionable. Wear a simple but cool t-shirt with a print in softer colors and a gold or silver pleated skirt to keep the outfit from looking fancy. If you opt for the leather version, the skirt should reach at least below the knee and be paired with a wide jacket. A white shirt also fits perfectly. For a party outfit, style the pleated skirt with a lace top or a sexy short top.
If you prefer a gold skirt in your outfit, you can immediately achieve effortless elegance with a simple black t-shirt and Madison Black & Beige Shoulder Bag.
My combination suggestions for a trendy look: T-shirts, oversized shirts, oversized sweaters, leather jackets, pilot jackets, sneakers, boots, Emré NewYork Madison Black & Beige Shoulder Bag
Pleated Skirt Combination for Elegant Look
When wearing a pleated skirt in an office setting or for a cocktail party, opt for dark colors like black, dark red or emerald green. The top you wear should be fitted and slim fit. For pleated skirts with a belt at the waist, you can emphasize your elegant style with high-heeled shoes. For a sophisticated look, I recommend silk and satin because they are soft to drape. Of course, you can also wear pleated skirts with tight lace tops or tight strapless tops with a stylish jacket for evening events.
My combination suggestions for an elegant look: Tight sweaters, thin blouses, turtlenecks, bodysuits, waist belts, light coats, high-heeled shoes
Casual Elegance and Pleated Skirt Combination
You can achieve sporty elegance in your daily life with a midi or pleated skirt and a monochrome shirt or sweater. A leather jacket will look perfect on your pleated skirt that you will combine with flat shoes.
My outfit suggestions for Everyday Elegance: short tops, white shirts, patterned shirts, soft colors, casual jackets, sneakers, high heels
Pleated Skirt Selection According to the Season
Although pleated skirts made of thin fabrics are generally preferred in the warmer months, they can be worn both in fall and winter with the right use.
Pleated Skirt for Fall
The ideal combination for fall is a pairing of sneakers and a cotton sweater. If you are very cold, you can combine it with thin tan tights, a leather jacket or a thin coat.
Pleated Skirt in Winter
Wear your skirt with a thick, knitted sweater and closed boots so that your feet stay as warm as possible. The thickness of the sock you wear underneath is also important. If you want to know how to choose which tights thickness check my blog post of Choosing Den in Socks According to the Season. In winter, complement your pleated skirt with a long coat, a stylish scarf and gloves. By the way, very rarely you can also find really warm skirts made of fine wool. Nowadays, when synthetics have replaced natural materials, it is really hard to find pleated skirts made of real wool, except for certain brands in the world. Of course, the reason for this is that the wool is very high quality and therefore the price is high.
Pleated Skirt in Spring
Obviously, spring is the most popular season for wearing pleated skirts. They can be worn with simple sneakers and a fashionable striped cotton sweater, or with a t-shirt and leather jacket, thin tights, belts, and light heels for evening events.
Pleated Skirt in Summer
With the exception of a few countries that don’t have cool summers, it’s best to stick to the principle of less is more in hot weather. You can enrich your pleated skirt, which you can combine with a simple top and cool sandals, with accessories in matching color tones.
Dear Friends
You ladies probably all have a pleated skirt stashed away in a closet that you never pull out because you never think to wear it. I am eager to see how you mix and match the pieces after reading this article. It would be wonderful if you could share your thoughts in the comments.
With love,
