18 Outfit Idea’s To Wear with a Pleated Skirt, for a Chic Look

Whether long or short, pleated skirts are a great year-round stylish look. Here is a guide to the best way to style them!

A pleated skirt is a great piece to add to your capsule wardrobe. It’s versatile and can be dressed up or down, and can be worn casually or to the office. Of course, all this is dependent on how you style it. 

Pleated skirts come in many different types of pleats, too! What you’ll be used to seeing on short tennis skirts is a regular pleat; knife or box pleats are similar to these and are narrow pleats which are all folded in one direction. Accordion pleats are common on both a pleated midi skirt and a long pleated skirt. These are a zig-zig fold pattern and are fluid and feminine; great for day to night.

Now that you know about the different types of skirts, we must move on to how to style the perfect pleated skirt outfit. To make it as easy as possible, we’ve put together our favorite pleated skirt outfit inspiration and style ideas. Without further adieu, here is how to wear a pleated skirt!

What To Wear With Pleated Skirts

1. Chunky Knit

An oversized sweater is a great option for styling a pleated skirt for the colder months. You can pair this with a pair of boots and a shiny or embellished skirt for the holiday season or a winter date night.

If you don’t like the oversized look or prefer a bit more shape, you can either tuck the sweater into your hem or tuck the sweater into a sports bra underneath your sweater.

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2. Black Bodysuit

The easiest way to style a pleated skirt is with a black top, and for any body type, a body suit is perfect. It’ll show off your body whilst still being chic.

This is also a great outfit to wear during the warm summer season evenings as the skirt can be a lightweight material, and you can wear a bodysuit in a short-sleeved style.

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3. Matching Knit

From summer to the colder months, a pleated skirt can be styled in many ways. A simple sweater matching your skirt in neutral colors if you’re going for a ‘quiet-luxury’ aesthetic is a great look.

You can pair this with kitten heels or ballet flats during fall or boots and tights during the winter for extra warmth.

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4. fitted Blazer

Blazers are a classic wardrobe staple, and it’s not surprising that they look good with a pleated mini skirt. It’s the perfect look for a girly day out.

For fall, pair this with knee-high boots and a fine knit top for an extra cozy layer.

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5. knit Vest

For those transitional periods of fall and spring, pieces like a knitted vest work as perfect layering pieces with a pleated skirt.

This is also a fantastic office-friendly look with a pair of heels and a simple leather tote bag.

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6. Matching Set

It’s difficult to go wrong with a matching set. A pleated top and long skirt is chic and dreamy, perfect for vacation or even a special occasion.

For an everyday look, pair this with flats, or for the evening, go for heels and a statement clutch bag.

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7. Longline Blazer

Fashion trends are changing, and oversized outerwear with an oversized or slouchy outfit is in! For your midi skirt outfits, don’t think this means sticking towards a fitted or cropped top.

Pair a midi length pleated skirt with a matching longline blazer (black always works well) it adds structure but can also work in place of a coat. Keep the accessories chic, as well as hair and makeup, for the ultimate cool girl look.

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8. White Button-down Shirt

A classic piece for any outfit is a white structured shirt and paired with a pleated skirt; it’s a match made in styling heaven.

A great option for an office outfit is to go for a monochromatic look; depending on how formal your workplace is, you could even wear classic white sneakers to be comfy all day long!

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9. Fine Knit Top

If you’re eyeing up a pleated mini skirt, but the weather isn’t looking favorable, you can create some warmth with the rest of your outfit. 

A fine knit top creates perfect balance with a mini skirt, and to add an extra wintery element, a pair of knee-high boots works perfectly.

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10. Trench Coat

The best option for a stylish outfit is always a long trench coat. A pleated skirt is great, but isn’t the most structured garment, a trench coat will replace this slouchiness.

As the perfect juxtaposition, a white t-shirt will result in the perfect ‘vanilla girl’ outfit.

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11. Black Waistcoat

The recent business core trend means fashionistas around the globe are looking for ways to incorporate their wardrobes into their everyday lives.

A pleated skirt is super feminine, whereas a waistcoat is traditionally masculine piece. Pairing these together will look extremely on-trend.

This is a great summer office look, which can also be worn to your happy hour plans!

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12. Asymmetric Hem Top

For formal events, go for a longer length pleated skirt paired with an asymmetric top for an eye-catching high-fashion look.

The hem line of the top will draw the eye to this element, perfect for hiding any lumps and bumps.

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13. Black Tank Top

Pairing a pleated skirt with a tank top is a chic look to stay cool in the warmer months, or if you’ll be dancing all night!

Pair a metallic pleated skirt with black pumps or high heels. If your skirt has no interesting details, you can use a chunky statement belt here too.

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14. Slouchy Sweater

Sweaters are an underrated garment, often associated with looking frumpy or misshapen. The major key here is to make sure you’re creating a silhouette with a belt or by tucking it into the waistband of your pleated skirt.

Even if your skirt is long, don’t be afraid to pair it with tall boots. Not only will this add warmth in the winter, but is a favorite look of many celebrities.

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15. White Tank Top

For the warmer weather, nothing beats a classic tank top. There’s a misconception that t-shirts and tanks need to be part of a casual outfit, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Pair your pleated skirt with a tank top, boots, and a blazer, for a perfect brunch look (which may spill into the evening).

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16. Oversized Top

An oversized shirt is a great way to dress down a pleated skirt for the daytime. If you’re likely to spend some time outside in the sun, this is great, as a pleated skirt is lightweight and allows air to circulate through your outfit.

This is great to pair with a skirt with an elasticated waistband as it means you’ll be super comfortable all day long.

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17. Wool Coat

An oversized coat with a pleated skirt makes a great outfit, whether the skirt is long or short. 

So not to be drowning in fabric, pay attention to the overall silhouette. If your skirt is short, you can experiment with a slouchy top, however, with a maxi skirt, go for a bodysuit or fitted top.

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18. Chunky Belt

If you feel like your pleated skirt outfits are just missing something, or if you’re an accessories girl, a chunky logo belt will work really well.

This is also great if you’re wearing a slouchy coat or blazer, a belt underwear will add some structure and shape to your outfit. 

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We hope you found a way to style a pleated skirt, perfect for you. If you’re still looking for more fashion inspiration, check the posts down below.

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