If you can only afford one new item of clothing this fall, make it a pleated midi skirt. A quick flip through the Fall 2019 collections and you’ll instantly see why. Shin-grazing skirts featuring pleats of all kinds — accordion, box, inverted, kick, knife, etc. — popped up on countless runways across New York, London, Milan and Paris. More often than not, the skirts came paired with formal blouses and menswear-inspired blazers plus some of-the-moment accessory (a bucket hat here, shiny red knee-high boots there) for a sort of “modern Working Girl” vibe.
Needless to say, pleated midi skirts are much more than prim-and-proper office attire. The textured, aerodynamic bottoms add a ton of interest to any look, especially when rendered in colorful tartans, rocker-chic leather, glossy metallics or shiny sequins or finished with an asymmetric hemline.
Remember, in a pleated midi, you’ve got a lot going on below your waistline so you’ll want to keep your silhouette clean up top. Many of our favorite style stars — most notably Victoria Beckham — toy with tonal dressing, offsetting their billowy bottoms with a slouchy turtleneck of the same hue. Of course, pattern clashing can be just as fun. A pleated plaid midi worn with a slightly oversized argyle sweater makes for an edgy yet playful back-to-school look.
Last but not least, a slightly abridged hemline begs for below-the-knee experimentation. So bring on the logo tights, statement heels and patterned over-the-knee boots. (Or combat boots, whatever fits your #aesthetic.)
Click through the slideshow below to shop our favorite pleated midi skirts for fall before they sell out.
Pleated Midi Skirts
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Zara
Pleated Skirt, $39.90 at Zara
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Mohan
Pleated Combi Skirt, $126 at W Concept
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Selected
Femme Pleated Wrap Midi Skirt, $119 at ASOS
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Sec by Rigoon
Tweed Pleated Skirt, $248 at W Concept
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The Frankie Shop
Karen Asymmetrical Pleated Skirt in Yellow, $195 at The Frankie Shop
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J.Crew
Pleated Midi Skirt in Art Deco Print, $118 at J.Crew
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Mango
Pleated Long Skirt, $39.99 at Mango
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Babaton
Westin Skirt in Black/Wild Indigo, $138 at Aritzia
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Our Comos
Comos167 Printing Pleats Skirt, $116 at W Concept
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RIXO
Claire Pleated Leopard-Print Cotton-Blend Midi Skirt, $325 at Net-a-Porter
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ASOS
Design Leather Look Pleated Midi Skirt, $48 at ASOS
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System
Blocking Rib Knit Skirt, $355 at W Concept
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Zara
Animal Print Pleated Skirt, $49.90 at Zara
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Le Kilt
Pleated 72cm Tartan Wool Kilt, $232 at Matches Fashion
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Calvin Klein
Pleated Skirt, $232 at Farfetch
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Rocket x Lunch
Panelled Pleats Long Skirt, $128 at W Concept
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J.Crew
Pleated Midi Skirt in Vintage Burgundy, $98 at J.Crew
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Dondup
Sequin-Embellished Midi Skirt, $711 at Farfetch
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Violeta by Mango
Pleated Midi Skirt, $49.99 at Mango
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Vince Camuto
Highland Plaid Pleated Skirt in Honey Pot, $99 at Nordstrom
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P.A.R.O.S.H.
Pleated Midi Skirt, $213 at Farfetch
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Ouahsommet
Origami Satin Pleated Skirt, $181 at Garmentory
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Pleats Please Issey Miyake
Pleated Midi-Skirt, $272 at Matches Fashion
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ASOS
Design Metallic Knit Midi Skirt in Eco Yarn, $40 at ASOS
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The Frankie Shop
Camille Snake-Print Pleated Jersey Midi Skirt, $145 at Net-a-Porter
