Fun Ways To Wear A Pleated Skirt For Fall
Pleated skirts…love ’em or hate ’em?
I used to hate them. Often they can add weight to the hips. I’ve figured out a few ways to avoid that problem and now kind of love pleated skirts.
Quick tips not to add bulk to your frame while wearing a pleated skirt:
- Show off your waist. You can tuck in like I’ve done below or add a belt to emphasize you have a waist.
- Find a skirt that is made out of a relaxed fabric that will drape down from the hips and not outwards from the body.
- Look for ones that have many pleats. The smaller the pleat the less likely they will add bulk to your body.
- Pleated skirts with stitched down pleats at the stomach keep the sihlouette sleek.
The reverse is also true, if you have a rectangular shaped body and want to add some curves look for larger pleats in heavier fabrics.
I made up this set a couple of weeks ago

as I’d just acquired this little floral skirt while thrifting.
Another pleated skirt outfit I wore last year… black pleather pleated skirt…
And here are a few other suggestions on how to wear a pleated skirt for fall.



Do you like any of these outfits? Will you be adding a pleated skirt to your wardrobe this fall?
Linking up with the party over at Visible Monday Shoe and Tell Turning Heads Tuesday I Will Wear What I Like Hat Attack
I *love* pleats and skirts, and all these great Fall looks. You’re a skirt-star!
I love the look of pleated skirts on others but not so much on me since it always feels like my hips stick out even more. I love your look with the plaid blazer.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Hope to see your Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.
I love ’em, I hate ’em. I have a chiffony pleated skirt that sits quite low on my hips which I like, but at the waist it would bother me. Your suggestions are good ones. I love that floral skirt with the horizontal stripes. Looks great! And that’s a serious bag you have there – matches the skirt perfectly without being too matchy.
I totally agree with you Melanie. Actually you took the words right out of my mouth (after Meatloaf). I thought that floral skirt came from Anthropologie. Thought I saw Suzanne trying it there.
For me pleated skirts, wider skirts are so difficult to style. They keep reminding me of my teens. (Not a pleasant period.)
Greetje
I took an outfit photo in the dressing room at Anthro in the skirt : ) But I bought it thrift.
Love them on you, love them on Curtise. I don’t own one. I’m not a fan of voluminous skirts on me.
I’d fight you for those boots! xxx
such practical advice. the outfits are really pretty!
xo,
nancy
Pleats are my friend. I love them and they love me back. Actually, we should probably get a room…
Hahaha. Funny.
Hahaha. Funny.
Now don’t you snazzy! And might I add that I very much like your eyeglasses. These are great sets all (especially love the leather jacket in the first one, probably because I have one just like it). Now, as to pleated skirts . . . only if the pleats don’t start right at the waistline. A pleated skirt right at the waist isn’t a good look on me.
I used to have several pleated skirts, but had the dreaded volume problem so decided to get rid of them. Great suggestions – maybe it’s time to give it another try.
Your pleated skirts are both lovely; the floral one is fun and flirty, which the skirt with the metallic sheen has a real grown-up elegance. Fabulous! In theory, pleated skirts shouldn’t work on me, since I have wide hips, but as you say, it depends how you style them and the size of the pleats. Xxx
PS. How many maxi dresses? No idea, I daren’t count! More than I need, but then that describes most of our wardrobes, doesn’t it? xxx
You look lovely as always, but I am not a fan of pleats ever. They act like little arrows highlighting problems. Look at that belly! Look at those hips! Have not worn them since having children and will not start now. And, I do not tuck anything in to show off waistbands. Mostly because that would require a waist 🙁
I’m glad you showed pictures of yourself with the pleated skirts—that hits home more for me!! I actually don’t have one of these anymore…but I could probably go borrow one from my mother!! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I really like all the sets you’ve done but especially the last one. And I can totally see why you’d want those boots! Me too. I bought a black multi pleated skirt earlier this summer but haven’t got round to wearing it so this has given me some inspiration!
All the outfits are so cute and I like the tips. My favorite pleated skirt though is the leather one, which is so funny because when longer leather skirts first started coming back, I really wasn’t sure I’d like it at all!
Funny how it takes our brains a bit of conditioning before they grow accustomed to the idea and then they love it. I was the same.
I used to shy away from pleated midi skirts thinking they made me look too bulky, but now I love them. You’ve put together some fabulous outfits in this post with some great tips 🙂
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
I have always liked pleats in theory, but I don’t own any pleated skirts. I have always wanted a black leather one with wide pleats ever since I saw one in a magazine, but have never found one. I like your pleather one! Those ankle boots in the last outfit are gorgeous – love the colour blocking.
I love the floral one you just bought. And yes, I most certainly want those booties too!!!
Your hair looks long! Are you still wearing those extensions?
These look great on you. Even though I’m smallest on the bottom I can’t do a pleated skirt. They just make me feel like an old lady. Hey, that’s right, I AM an old lady:)
LOVE the floral pleated skirt you thrifted. And the floral against the gray stripe is such a playful and polished combination. I have a dress with a pleated skirt from Anthropologie, and I’ve found that styling is critical in whether or not I like the outfit. It really does require a belt, sleek shoe, and pieces that lighten the look. It’s a piece that I hesitate wearing because I don’t always like how it looks on. I’ll be sure to keep your styling tips in mind next time I go to wear it. Yes, I do think pleated items require more styling “work”, but I don’t want that to deter me from wearing them altogether.
<3 Liz
http://www.withwonderandwhimsy.com
I’ve never seen a leather pleated skirt! Looks fabulous on you! Great tips. I don’t have one, but if I stumble across a beauty that I can’t resist, I will think of this post.
Thank you for sharing your hat, beauty and style with Hat Attack!
I am obsessed with pleated skirts, I think they can look really classy. I have quite a collection, usually knee-length or midis. Recently I thrifted this long yellow skirt, it has a summery feel but I used it in an autumn outfit anyway and think it looks nice, doesn´t it?