pleats

Street Style

Street Stylers Show Off Their Pretty Spring Pleats

With their fashion pulse close to ground, street stylers are translating Spring's runway trends into their own unique perspective.
Spring Street Style Trend Pleats

With their fashion pulse close to ground, street stylers are translating Spring's runway trends into their own unique perspective. So what's the latest craze? Pretty pleats. This batch of fashion snaps show us a range of pleated-out looks ranging from gorgeous pleated maxidress and sandal combos to accordion pleated shorts styled with breezy sweaters. We're taking notes of their crafty mix-mastering skills, and we suggest you do too. Read below for our three favorite outfits, then click the slideshow to see more inspiring looks.

  • We love this fun knit sweater and pleated shorts combo — how cute is the collar necklace?
  • This look has us convinced to invest in a sheer maxidress, we love how this ensemble is styled an effortless tank and standout floppy hat.
  • We're smitten with this ladylike ensemble. Perfect for your next dinner date or Spring evening outing.
Fashion Flash

Vera Wang Runway New York Fashion Week Fall 2011

Vera Wang's Fall 2011 collection — perhaps inspired by Black Swan — conjured up a fashion-forward ballerina with a bit of edge.

Vera Wang's Fall 2011 collection — perhaps inspired by Black Swan — conjured up a fashion-forward ballerina with a bit of edge. Pleated chiffon dresses of the floaty, diaphanous variety were paired with sporty-luxe fur-trimmed anoraks and further contrasted by a futuristic beauty look consisting of smoky eyes and unfussy, slicked-back hair. Wang's autumnal palette ranged from delicious taupes and chocolates to ruby reds and whisper pinks, and black elbow-length leather gloves reinforced the modern vibe. Watch our runway coverage now to get a peek at the full army of lovely frocks!

Trend Alert

Trend Alert: Pleats That Play the Accordion

If you've ever wanted to experiment with pretty pleats, now's the time.

If you've ever wanted to experiment with pretty pleats, now's the time. Accordion pleats are cropping up in unexpected places. They're a classic take on texture, but don't think these pleats signal school girl. They're playful and fresh in other fabrics, like chiffon, à la Jessica Alba in Marc Jacobs, or even a little naughty in leather. Whether you select them as a part of the whole look, or just to experiment with the details, they're modern and femme, and insanely flirtatious.

Trend Alert

Trend Alert: Do the Pleat

I admit, I was growing quite weary of the current selection of Fall handbags, but my outlook changed when I laid eyes on cool pleated bags.
Diane von Furstenberg at ShopStyle

I admit, I was growing quite weary of the current selection of Fall handbags, but my outlook changed when I laid eyes on cool pleated bags. There's something for everyone with styles ranging from tightly stitched clutches to more haphazard pleats. This fresh Diane von Furstenberg Studded Napa Bag ($595) awakened my handbag soul to a level unparalleled. Dramatic much? But doesn't it make you want to do the pleat?



Shopping

The Look For Less: Mauro Grifoni Light Gray Pleated Skirt

I used to take ballet when I was little, so it's no surprise that I'm partial to the sweet ballerina look.
Mauro Grifoni at ShopStyle

I used to take ballet when I was little, so it's no surprise that I'm partial to the sweet ballerina look. I've been looking for a soft accordion pleat skirt, like this Mauro Grifoni Light Gray Pleated Skirt ($128, originally $315), to re-create the chic ballerina look. But unfortunately, the price and the hemline aren't quite right. I want something less expensive and sassier.


To see the look for less, read more

Look of the Day

Look of the Day: Pleats-a-holic

When done right, pleats can be a beautiful thing.

When done right, pleats can be a beautiful thing. Check out how chuchu223 did it. To bring structure to her flowy skirt, she paired it with a boxy black jacket. Good thinking. I love the black and ivory color combo. The T-strap brown sandals are the perfect finishing touch. This look makes me want to become a pleats-a-holic!

Unfortunately she didn't give us the details of her outfit, so come back and fill us in.

Congrats to chuchu223!

Everyone else, submit your looks and I might feature you on FabSugar!


Layout

In The Showroom: Caroline Hedaya Spring 09

Caroline Hedaya & Donna Baxter, the duo that make up the Caroline Hedaya brand, are young designers whose signature aesthetic is well timed--there's nothing that pleases us more for Spring 09 than ruffles, fringe, or pleats.

Caroline Hedaya & Donna Baxter, the duo that make up the Caroline Hedaya brand, are young designers whose signature aesthetic is well timed--there's nothing that pleases us more for Spring 09 than ruffles, fringe, or pleats. Adorning many, but not all, of the Spring 09 pieces were lovely ruffles in the front and back of garments. Hedaya sticks to beautiful, feminine basics otherwise. Click here to see our snapshots of the Spring 09 collection, and, if you can't wait, you can get Fall 08 at Shopbop.

Bally

The Bag to Have: Bally Leather Zip Pocket Slouch Bag

Pleated and folded handbags are popping up all over, and they're kicking the butts of structured purses.
Bally at ShopStyle

Pleated and folded handbags are popping up all over, and they're kicking the butts of structured purses. I predict this Bally Leather Zip Pocket Slouch Bag ($1,195), which also comes in nude, is going to be the next coveted accessory. Look at it; doesn't it scream the bag to have? I can see Charlize and Gwyneth all over it. It has all the right components — it's buttery, has slick asymmetrical zippers, a braided-slash-chain handle, and the coolest horizontal fold. And, it's Brian Atwood-designed, swoon.


Trend Alert

Trend Alert: Into the Fold

Time to get into the fold.

Time to get into the fold. Pleated, tucked, furrowed, whatever you want to call it, these gathered handbags will add depth to your look. The real beauty is you have options: tight, accordion-like folds have a rocker vibe while simple incisions stay crisp and clean. I think I need one of each.


Old Navy

Cheap Pleats

Pleats are tricky creatures, little bits of design that are hard to construct and even trickier to maintain.
Pleats are tricky creatures, little bits of design that are hard to construct and even trickier to maintain. The pleat is a type of fold formed by doubling fabric back upon itself and securing it in place. It is commonly used in clothing and upholstery to gather a wide piece of fabric to a narrower circumference. In other words, a pleat is a lot of work and requires plenty of fabric. So why is it that we discovered a profusion of cheap pleats after being turned on to a particular Old Navy sateen pleated skirt thanks to community member Stained Couture. The concept just doens't make sense. Economizing fabric keeps prices down for the fast fashion retailers so why on earth would they choose to construct a garment that requires an excess of fabric? Lord knows cheap fabric isn't going to hold a pleat especially well and we don't even want to get into just how the arrived at the delightful little tucks via some crazy CAD pattern making creation. And yet there they are in a tidy row at retailers from Forever 21 to Old Navy just begging us to add a little kick to down and out wardrobes. We have enough trouble keeping the pleats in our Miu Miu school girl skirt looking crisp and fresh and the damn thing was made by artisans in Italy with only the finest textiles. We can't even imagine the wrinkling, unraveling, and potential disasters that could be involved in cheaply stapled pleats. And yet somehow we want to pair these with our long tanks and giggly insouciantly, yes of course we deliberately bought the cheap versions just think how they will deconstruct so artfully!