Pleated Skirts Are The Fashion Trend Worth Trying This Summer
From the catwalk to the streets, pleated skirts are everywhere this summer. This closet staple has long been rooted in fashion, but the trend took a turn in the last couple of months. With the rise of the tenniscore and coquette aesthetics, 2024 has welcomed an innovative take on pleats. Fashionistas and pop stars have been testing pleated skirts of all shapes and sizes and delivering inspiration for our wardrobe.
Ahead, EnVi dives into this summer’s most versatile fashion trend — pleated skirts.
The Pertinence of Pleats
When picking up a pleated skirt, Western consumers usually recall its scholastic roots. While this association remains true, pleats hold earlier ties to ancient North Africa and East Asia. Originally, pleats were a functional element in garments and were used to increase textile breathability. One of the earliest examples can be found in traditional Egyptian garments. According to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, pleated sheath dresses were common around 2300-21000 B.C. Egypt. Craftsmen had a process of hand-folding the pleats into the fabric, then washing it with natron and refolding it again.
In Korea, large pleated skirts grew popular in the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). The chima (traditional Korean pleated skirt) featured zig-zag tucks. Ancient Korean society used the garment as a status symbol and an essential element of hanbok (traditional Korean clothing).
Pleats on the Runway
Compared to historical examples, modern pleated skirts range from micromini to ankle-length variations. The preference for pleats has infiltrated luxury fashion campaigns and runways throughout the past year. Danish fashion house Ganni, for example, introduced patent leather garments and pops of pleats on long pinstripe skirts in their Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear collection. The pleats served to add playfulness to business-inspired suit sets.
Italian high fashion brand Miu Miu has also tried their hand at pleats and spearheaded the trend on the runways. The Miuccia Prada-led brand originally showcased pleated skirts with their iconic Miu Miu set of 2022 and now the silhouette remains a staple in every collection. In recent months, pleated mini skirts were spotted all over the Miu Miu L’Été collection. Roughing up warm-weather classics, the collection focused on summer staples with risky hemlines. The brand offered pleated mini skirts in cappuccino checker pint, camel suede, and distressed black denim. The line also featured midi and tennis skirts for their less daring demographic.
Men’s Skirts
Men’s skirts have also risen in popularity. Since the spring of 2023, the fashion industry has introduced skirts in the menswear landscape — think about the runways of Thom Browne and Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY or stars like Evan Mock and A$AP Rocky. As seen on the streets and in editorial spaces, the trend hasn’t waned down in 2024.
Fashion enthusiasts recently spotted K-pop star Bang Chan (Stray Kids) making a case for the pleated skirt in the streets of Milan. Partnering with Fendi, he modeled a midi skirt from the Fall Winter 2024 collection paired with a ribbed bomber jacket. The black outfit followed the monochrome wave in fashion and even featured all-black accessories. If you want to emulate Bang Chan’s edgy take on the trend, slip on a pair of combat boots. Chunky black lace-up shoes take pleated skirts right to daring and rebellious territory.
Another star flaunting the versatility of pleated skirts is Filipino singer, songwriter and producer John Paulo Bagnas Nase (better known as SB19’s leader, Pablo). Pablo joined in on the men’s skirt craze when he posed for the cover of Young Star. Similar to Bang Chan, the “GENTO” singer opted for a long black pleated skirt with chunky combat boots. Pablo, however, struck a different chord with a leather pleated skirt that bestowed the outfit with a fierce warrior aesthetic — perhaps, as it channeled the leather skirt’s Roman military roots
Short and Sweet
Along with the increasing popularity of coquette style, short and cute skirts have run their course since 2023. Pop culture references such as American pop star Sabrina Carpenter and the sports drama film Challengers have also influenced the current market. The trend has resulted in the rise of short pleated skirts, ranging from tennis-infused models to preppy, school-inspired designs.
Need a few examples? Korean pop star Wonyoung demonstrated the perfect way to sport a pleated mini-skirt with some help from Miu Miu. As the brand’s global ambassador, Wonyoung got to handpick her Ready-to-Wear favorite pieces to be sold as part of the Miu Miu Select project. For the launch in Seoul, South Korea, Wonyoung sported a black knitted polo and high-waisted tennis skirt. The sharp, medium-sized pleats accentuated the school influence of the outfit and aligned with the dominance of preppy style throughout 2024.
Another fashionista presenting ways of styling a pleated skirt is Berlin-based fashion content creator Jihoon Kim. Short tennis skirts became a regular in her spring-to-summer wardrobe. From low-waisted khakis to breezy linen, Jihoon has shown her preference for pleated skirts of all colors and lengths by mixing casual masculine styles with feminine details. On an Instagram post, Gen Z it girl leaned into the coquette and tenniscore aesthetic with a butter yellow camisole and coordinated pleated skirt. The low-rise skirt sat on her hips and featured a brown belt, offering a throwback to the 2000s. But that’s not everything. Jihoon’s look also featured a tennis spin thanks to the thin and plentiful pleats that created lots of movement and volume.
Finding Your Pleated Skirt
Now that you’ve seen how brands and celebrities are styling pleated skirts, all you have left is to find the right style for you.
Throughout history, pleated skirts have made their mark on countless demographics, taking on many forms. The advantage is just how comfortable, versatile and timeless (yet trendy) these pieces can be. This year, tennis skirts and leather midi skirts are popular choices among global stars and fashion connoisseurs. And what’s not to love? They are easy to style, can adapt to any style and, during summer, they offer breathability and flow.
If you’re still looking for some inspiration, check out some EnVi-approved pleated skirts below.
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