THE PLEATED MINI SKIRT DOESN’T AGE A BIT
The star of the tennis courts and spring wardrobes, the pleated skirt seduces season after season. Designers and their girls have elevated the fashion piece to the rank of a spring wardrobe essential. Let’s take a closer look at its history and the ways to wear it!
Who hasn’t had a pleated skirt in their closet at least once? Whether it’s to play tennis or to go to class, the fashion piece proves to be a wise choice in all circumstances. Not too short, not long enough—it’s a skirt staple that we love to dust off our closets every season.
Its signature check pattern gives it a timeless fashion imprint that has stood the test of time and seasons. We think of Stacey Dash’s signature blazer and yellow pleated skirt look in the 90s movie Clueless, or the current streetstyles of our favorite girls. Timeless—this is the story of the pleated skirt.
The History of the Pleated Skirt
If the pleated skirt is often associated with the schoolgirl trend, it has its origins in the world of sports, especially tennis. The pleated miniskirt was designed in 1921 by the French couturier Jean Patou, for the French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen. On the occasion of the Wimbledon tournament, the tennis player appeared in a sublime, immaculate skirt, which quickly became a cult classic.
A few years later, players continue to wear the star skirt and appreciate it for its timeless style. Delicate and feminine, the pleated mini skirt is to tennis players what a jersey is to footballers, a must-have! Monica Seles, Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Coco Gauff... Since the dawn of time, the greatest players have made it their own, both on and off the court.
How do I wear a pleated mini skirt?
A hybrid, the pleated mini skirt is one of the pieces of the woman’s wardrobe that goes with the most styles. The pleated skirt can be worn with a sweatshirt for an off-duty look, with a blazer for a schoolgirl look, or with a blouse and pumps In the quiet luxury trend, the pleated skirt adapts to all styles.
Designers make it the highlight of their fashion shows, and it is undeniable that it returns to the forefront of the fall scene every year. Recently, she was spotted on the catwalks of New York Fashion Week, alongside Tommy Hilfiger.
Beige skirt and cardigan, navy blue dress, and sports jacket—the pleated skirt was the star of the catwalks. On the other side of the Atlantic, the same is true at London Fashion Week, where Burberry unveiled an autumn-winter 2024 collection with numerous mini skirts with checkered and pleated patterns, in homage to the style of its house. As you can see, you can never go wrong with a pleated skirt!
