In fashion, the devil is in the details and by far the easiest way to make a garment look expensive is by adding pleats to it. Just follow the simple rule — tuck, pleat, repeat — and you can be feminine, delicate, sexy, and glamorous — all at the same time. With the approaching winter season, you can find variations in pleats to suit all styles and tastes.
From tops, skirts, dresses and high waist trousers — fine pleats are making their way everywhere, and we can’t stop swooning over it. Pleats are the best way to add oomph to an outfit, mentions designer duo Karishma and Deepa Sondhi, as they add, “The autumn-winter is strongly marked by pleats and bows. Recently, the pleated pants worn by Victoria Beckham were in news for making a comeback. The most common knife pleats are a timeless trend and one can find them on midi dresses, skirts, and A-line gowns. These can be incorporated with a bomber jacket or poncho for office wear, daywear, luncheon, and formal dinner parties. Pleats work really great in multi-hued ombre and holographic prints.”
An outfit by designer Amita Gupta
While the pleats make a comeback every year in a different interpretation of the trend, it’s very important to make sure the placement of the pleats suits your body type, highlights designer Simran Arya. She says, “Midi skirts with pleats are ideal for tall and leaner women. For anyone with a curvy and filled frame — pleats are ideal in shorter dresses or skirts. While wearing pleats, opt for solid colours to match your outfit with. Pair your pleated skirts with a fitted top or crew neck sweater and layer it with a cropped jacket, add a pair of boots and you’ve got an ideal winter look.”
Interestingly, designer Pooja Shroff mentions the timeless appeal of the pleated dresses and recalls the iconic white pleated dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in the 60s’ and the modern-day works of designers like Iris Van Herpen, who experiments with pleats in the most unique manner. Pooja says, “Fuss-free silhouettes are really important and pleats are the best way to get it right. Designers are opting for tighter and intricate pleats not only in Western outfits but also in contemporary Indian outfits. They have worked their way into long skirts, dresses, trousers and even crop tops of lehengas or blouses of sarees. Pleats emphasise the waistline and mechanically folded pleats are a big trend this season.”
If you are obsessing over the versatility of the pleats, there are plenty of styles to choose from. With variations ranging from silk pleat dress to a leather pleat skirt, designer Aashmika Jain gives you some easy styling tips as she says, “There are so many ways to style pleats — mix it with skirts, trousers, crop tops heavy knits or whatever cool clothing piece you have in your wardrobe. Avoid wearing it with sneakers; it goes well with high heels or ballerinas.”
While Nanki Papneja, founder of a fashion brand, finds pleats to be a perfect blend of street style and sophistication. She recommends, “Micro pleated skirts are on top of the charts this season. If paired with boots and a boxy blazer it gives a structured yet trendy look overall. A long broad pleated skirt paired with a bedazzled crop top can also be incorporated for the festive season. When wearing a solid pleated item, you can take your look from AM to PM. Your day look can be paired with a simple contrasting colour top paired with a statement hand accessory; whereas, for the night just put on an embellished top with a classic up-do and you’ll be ready to rock.”
