What is a pleated skirt
Pleated is a type of drapery in which folds are created from smooth fabric. They are usually stitched on only one side, and their durability is ensured by processing the material at high temperatures. Using this technology, as a rule, A-line, sun or half-sun models are formed.
Not the entire product may be pleated. Sometimes they make a smooth yoke and pleated hem or add an element with pleats. They can be large, like school skirts, or small. The latter option can also be called corrugation.
How to choose a pleated skirt
Pleated skirts vary:
- By lenght. It can be anything – from an extreme mini to a floor-length skirt.
- According to the size of the folds. Large folds often refer to formal styles or those that have grown out of them. They will fit perfectly into the wardrobes of preppy adherents or officecore lovers. Gofre is a more romantic story, you should be more careful with it. Ruffled skirts were very popular in the 2010s and need a modern styling or risk looking dated.
- According to the composition of the fabric. Much depends on the technological process. For small folds, light and thin materials are usually used, and for large folds, dense ones. But there are exceptions to the general rule.
- By prints. The most common option is pleated skirts made of plain material, since in this case you do not have to adjust the pattern on the fabric so that it looks good when assembled. But if there is still a print, then on products with large folds it will be more like a cage and other geometry. Small folds, as a rule, do not distort the design, so even complex patterns are possible.
- By color. They can be anything.
The good news is that most of the options for a pleated skirt are a matter of taste; you can simply focus on your preferences and the items you already have in your wardrobe. Although some nuances are worth paying attention to.
For example, mini ones can be treacherous due to folds and ride up at the slightest breeze. Corrugated minis actually have increased volatility, and with them the risk of showing off your underwear to others is even higher. So it’s worth taking this point into account and purchasing so-called safety shorts or choosing a model made of heavy material. Or simply be prepared for such a development of events.
Pleated skirts can also add volume in the hip area. This is both a bug and a feature at the same time. If you don’t mind visually adding a few centimeters to yourself in this area and making your waist look even thinner, then you can simply ignore this. But if you avoid this effect at all costs, take a closer look at skirts with large pleats. Another option is to choose a model with a yoke or with folds stitched at the top. In this case, in the hip area, the skirt will fit the figure and show its real shape.
However, everything is decided by the question of fitting, since a particular pleated skirt can fit you perfectly, no matter what model it is.
Ruffled skirts are often produced with elastic instead of a belt. This is convenient, but first of all for manufacturers: they can pay less attention to the fit of the product. If possible, try to choose skirts with a fixed waistband. Usually, all other things being equal, they look better and do not form strange volumes in the waist area. And if the model you like still has an elastic band instead of a belt, it is better to cover it with a belt or an elongated top.
What to buy
What to wear with a pleated skirt
The short answer is with anything. Still, there are some universal combinations that will work great in most cases.
1. With a T-shirt
Depending on which T-shirt you choose, you will get bows with different content. A basic loose-fitting T-shirt will be a nice addition that won’t draw attention to itself. But if, for example, you take a T-shirt with a rock band print, the image will come out more grunge. Moreover, this will work with any pleated skirt. You can support the top with shoes: sneakers, rough boots, thick-heeled sandals paired with socks.
If that’s not enough, grab an oversized printed T-shirt and wear it untucked or tucked in in a deliberately casual manner.
What to buy
2. With a polo shirt
A polo T-shirt with short or long sleeves goes well with large pleated pleated skirts made of thick fabrics. With a mini you will get the image of a student of an elite school, with midi and maxi – an ensemble in trendy office core or librarian style. But a polo will not always look good with a ruffled skirt: the romantic and sporty nature of two things can argue. However, if you know how to harness different styles, then you can easily cope with this combination.
What to buy
3. With a hoodie or sweatshirt
Here, the sporty nature of the top does not enter into unnecessary debate, but, on the contrary, helps make the image more interesting due to the contrast. The hoodie can be either shortened to reveal the waistline or long to the mid-thigh. Much depends on your tastes, height and proportions. Just try on different models and determine the length that looks most harmonious on you personally.
What to buy
4. With a sweater, jumper, long sleeve, turtleneck or thin cardigan
All of these fine knitwear products are essentially interchangeable and will make an excellent pair with any pleated skirt. They can be worn tucked in or undone depending on the proportions you are aiming for. If you want to create a layered outfit, wear a shirt as the first layer. You can also either tuck it in or leave it sticking out from under the top layer – whichever you prefer.
What to buy
5. With a shirt
A laconic loose-fitting shirt is a completely independent element that will successfully complement a large pleated skirt of any length if you need to create a more or less formal look or a preppy-style ensemble. It will also go well with a flowing pleated skirt if, for example, the shirt is tied in a knot and the sleeves are rolled up.
But shirts with decor that look more like blouses should be treated with caution. With a romantic skirt, this is an ideal match, but with more office-student models, the set may turn out to be inharmonious. Much depends on what effect you are trying to achieve. For example, a mini in combination with a ruffled blouse is more likely to create a slightly childish, infantile look.
What to buy
6. With a jacket
In general, you can use a jacket, a biker jacket, or a bomber jacket as the topmost layer – the choice depends on the overall style. But a jacket can also be a self-sufficient top that can be worn in just one layer to achieve a piquant look. Of course, fastening it at the same time. You can emphasize your waist with a belt.
An elongated jacket will help adjust the hip area if a pleated skirt creates unwanted volume.
What to buy
What shoes to wear with a pleated skirt
Here it is better to focus not so much on the skirt, but on its surroundings, in order to support the image as a whole. In this case, you need to take into account the length of the product and how you want your legs to look. For example, many people don’t like to wear midi skirts with mid-calf shoes because they think it visually shortens their legs. In such a case, you should choose either shoes or boots that go under the hem.
Otherwise there are no restrictions. Rules are not there to prohibit anything, but to provide a starting point that works for the majority. But you are unique, so don’t be afraid to experiment.