How To Style Pleated Skirts (Valentine’s Day Ed.)

Forgive me, dear readers. Due to travel with the family, I was unable to do a mini photo shoot to illustrate the styling techniques for this post, so I had to make do with good ol’ Polyvore. (By the way, Polyvore is A LOT of work. If someone can give me some pointers on mastering Polyvore, I’d be so grateful). As with the last ‘How To Style‘ post, I’m sharing my simple fashion formulas to take all of the guesswork out of styling and make recreating the outfits as easy as possible.

I’ve already expressed my love for pleated skirts in my blog. I wore pleated skirts in multiple shoots and listed it as a basic item every woman should own, so now let’s talk about how to style a pleated skirt. Pleated skirts come in MANY varieties (there various pleating techniques, colors, and lengths). If shopping for pleated skirts sounds daunting, just look for a well constructed black pleated skirt in a midi or maxi length.  It’s a classic silhouette that’s appropriate for women of ALL ages (this is not just a twenty something’s skirt) in the most versatile color. Here’s an example of how to wear it:

This look is so simple, there’s no need for me to break it down further. You’ll notice I’ve included several other basic items, like black pointy pumps, a white button-down and a black leather belt. I added the leopard clutch to add an extra element and bit of excitement to the classic black and white combo. Here’s a real life example of a similar ensemble:

(Image Source: Little Blonde Book)

Honestly, I can be a little bit of a curmudgeon as Valentine’s day approaches (I mean, it’s such a Hallmark holiday and there are so. many. frilly hearts.), but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to create a set featuring the adorable Valentine color combo: pink and red. You truly can’t go wrong with such a feminine color combo, as long as you reign in the sugary sweetness of it by pairing the outfit with dark or neutral accessories that will balance it out. Here’s a real life example of a similar ensemble:

(Image Source: Pink Peonies)

For the final pleated skirt look, I had to use pastel colors because we can all use a little bit more pastel in our lives come wintertime. Quick tip: If you’re worried pleats will make you look wider, wear a monochromatic outfit. Wearing one color from head to toe will instantly elongate you and help you look polished. Here’s a real life example of how to wear head-to-toe pastel and not look like a five year old on Easter Sunday:

(Image source: The Classy Cubicle)

If I’ve successfully convinced you that pleated skirts are THE best, here are some affordable options to consider:

I hope you found this post helpful (maybe you even found it more helpful because it didn’t include pics of me). If you’re also fan of pleated skirts, let me know how you wear your pleated skirts in the comments. If you have any questions or need further styling advice, I’m at your service. 🙂