Without question pleated skirts look amazing on women. They have an air of sophistication and playfulness that make them just the ideal skirt to spot on nearly any occasion. But can plus size women wear pleated skirts? Stick around to find out the answer and more.
Plus size women can wear pleated skirts but keen attention should be given to the size, length, and placement of the pleats on the skirt. This is crucial to minimize any extra bulk on your plus size silhouette.
Pleated skirts have been around for quite some time. They are fun, modest, and come in various styles and designs. They look fabulous and are not restrictive when it comes to styling them. This coupled up with the fact that they are extra comfortable – especially if you get one that sits perfectly along your waist – will make you feel like a doll!
Why Pleated Skirts Still Reign Supreme
Skirts are a staple in a majority of women’s closets. They are modest, sophisticated, and ladylike. Alongside dresses, skirts are considered to play up the feminine aura of women making them appear more attractive and put together. Additionally, skirts help to naturally highlight the curves on a woman’s body, and depending on length, they are a great way to show off your legs!
Several types of skirts have been churned out over the recent decades. Pleated skirts have been one style that has never faded away. They are still considered appropriate, in-style, and can be worn by both the young and old in every season and on any occasion, both formal and informal; of course with a modern twist to spice things up. Their versatility makes them a priceless piece of clothing that any fashion-forward lady would be delighted to spot.
Pleated skirts tend to highlight the waist, as this is the only part of the body that the skirt synchs in. These timeless pleat designs are generally tailored to glide over your curves, giving you some modest and effortless appeal. Instead of a plain silhouette, the pleats also add detail, structure, and character to the skirt. One can hardly get bored of this type of skirt as the pleats vary in height, thickness, and position. This gives you innumerable options to choose from and an array of styles to fashionably vary your wardrobe with.
Pleated Skirts and Plus-Size Women
Many rules dictate what plus size women should and should not wear. For ages plus size women have been told to steer clear from body-hugging pieces, pencil skirts, and other numerous fashion options. Additionally, plus size women have been cautioned against pleated skirts because of the perceived bulk they add to body silhouettes. They are typically advised to wear other types of skirts and told to spot belts and other embellishments along their mid-sections to disguise the bump they have. But here’s some great news! When it comes to pleated skirts it’s a whole new ball game.
Whereas pleats may indeed tend to give off a more voluminous shape, this is not always the case. More so, this reason should not deter plus size women from wearing this timeless piece of clothing as there are several ways to go around the ‘additional bulk‘ issue or altogether avoid its occurrence.
Many plus size women have great fears when it comes to wearing ‘forbidden clothing.’ There are those who believe just about anything they are told and would not attempt to break any ‘fashion rule’ prescribed. Due to a lot of the misinformation and unfounded advice circulated in various social media outlets, plus size women have varying views when it comes to wearing a pleated skirt.
Some of the fears some have include:
- Their belly pouch sticking out like a sore thumb
- Looking bigger than they already are
- Having their wide waists highlighted
- Feeling overdressed or overdone, especially when they try to match their voluptuous lower proportions with bulky sweaters and coats.
Ideally, plus size women should exercise greater precaution when selecting their pleated skirts. Unlike regular-sized or smaller-sized women who can conveniently get away with anything when it comes to fashion rules, plus size women aren’t that lucky. This is not to be perceived as a disadvantage. By playing within the identified confines, plus size women can look equally dashing in their skirts just as the rest of the women – if not better.
Top Tips Concerning Plus-Size Pleated Skirts
Here are some crucial considerations to be taken into account and why they matter when it comes to picking a plus size pleated skirt.
1. Where the Pleat Starts
With the different variations of pleats, some are designed to start higher and others lower on the skirt silhouette. Pleats that start lower, right below your belly area, tend to highlight your belly. It would be advisable to avoid these designs and stick to the conventional pleat designs which run from the waistband to the bottom of the skirt.
2. The Thickness of the Pleat
If your pleats are too wide or too narrow, they will exaggerate your volume. Preferably stick to pleats of medium size to optimize your appearance. However, if you like your pleats extremely fine and narrow or you do not mind large pleats, feel free to incorporate some of the styling tips below to work around the various dynamics at play.
3. The Structure and Design of The Skirt
Pleated skirts typically come in an A-line design; a synched waist and pleats that move away from your body silhouette. This is ideal for plus size women as it gives the impression of a smaller waist. Other pleated skirts are slightly straight and don’t flare up as much at the bottom. You should devote greater attention to what you couple these skirts with, to ensure that they do flatter your frame.
Other general considerations when it comes to skirts include:
4. The Length Of The Skirt
How short or long your skirt is has a significant implication on how you will look. If you are larger around your midsection, a short skirt may tend to draw the eye around your mid-area (waistline and thighs) whereas a longer skirt will draw the eye away from your midsection onto the length of the skirt. This does not mean that plus size women should avoid short skirts. Absolutely not! There are numerous styling tips to pull off a short pleated skirt which we shall explore later on.
5. The Color
Colors and prints are an intricate consideration while shopping for an ideal plus size pleated skirt. Color evokes emotion and can be used to play up or play down features on any silhouette. Bold-colored skirts are eye-catching and therefore draw attention to every part of the body the fabric drapes over. On the other hand, darker hues tend to mask and distract the eye from the areas they cover.
To get the best of both worlds, you can pick skirts that incorporate both brightly colored and dark prints, patterns, and colors. This is best achieved in floral prints or striped skirts. You could also use accessories such as belts, chains, scarves, and handbags to draw attention to the areas you want to highlight and to play down the areas you are not too comfortable showing.
6. Good Stitching
This is essential in all apparel. You do not want any running hems or threads peeping out. Quality stitching ensures durability.
7. Fit
Plus size women tend to ‘size up’ when it comes to purchasing their clothing. This is a common practice to minimize any incidents of buying sizes that are too small to fit. Nevertheless, if you buy a size bigger than your actual size, do take your skirt to your tailor to adjust it to your exact body measurements. Nothing says elegance as much as a well-fitting piece of garment. It’s not prudent to have excess and unnecessary fabric that only makes your body appear larger and less appealing.
Tips on How to Wear A Plus Size Pleated Skirt
1. Wear your skirt at the smallest part of your waistline
This trick works magic in making your waist appear smaller in comparison to your lower half.
2. Avoid tight waistbands
Skirts with tight waistbands are extremely uncomfortable and squeezing. Do not get fooled by the idea that the smaller the waistband, the more synched and smaller your waist will look. Quite conversely, tight waistbands will cause your belly pouch to bulge out which is something you will do best to avoid.
3. Intimates
Intimates are important to look fabulous in every outfit. They give you the needed support and help reduce excess bulging and the appearance of fat rolls on your body. If you would prefer a flatter tummy or your skirt is a bit more fitting around the midsection or thighs, you should definitely invest in good quality shapewear. If you are on a budget, you can purchase high-quality high-waisted panties to give you the necessary synch and hold in your tummy.
4. Statement pieces
If your skirt is plain, you can choose to add a statement piece that will serve as the highlight of your outfit. Pick between a heavily embroidered or stylishly cut top, a pair of printed or shimmery boots, or a set of chunky and long jewelry. However, when it comes to statement pieces, the fewer the better! It is advisable to stick to one piece per outfit. You do not want to give the impression that you are trying too hard.
5. Tucks and Knots
Tucking has proven to be an invaluable technique to spruce up any outfit. There are different types of tucks you can try for a more playful look on your t-shirt, denim or blouse to break or seamlessly connect the two pieces (top and skirt).
The great thing about knots and tucks is that they are adjustable and you can quickly customize your look with what feels comfortable and looks great on you.
6. It’s all about balancing out your proportions!
The common thing to do when it comes to dressing a super short pleat skirt is to couple it with a loosely fitting top or coat that drapes over your thighs. This gives more balance to your proportions and prevents any part from appearing exaggerated. The converse will apply if you are looking to rock a mid-length or full-length pleated skirt. Pick more fitting and structured pieces for your upper half.
You can get creative with mixing and matching pieces of your choice, but whatever you do stick to the basic rules of balanced proportions.
How to Style a Plus-Size Pleated Skirt
The great thing about pleated skirts is that they have a wide array of styling options. With just one pleated skirt you can traverse numerous fashion styles and look chic all the way. It’s all up to you and how creative you allow yourself to be. In addition to some of the tips and style advice highlighted above, you can also try out these edgy styles.
Style 1: Denim shirt or jacket – You can knot the denim shirt for a more fitted look or throw on a colorful and contrasting top with a denim jacket on top. Throw on some sneakers and you are ready to go!
Style 2: Halter tops and boots/sandals – This is perfect for summer or any other sunny day. You can opt to tuck your top or have it hang over your curves for a more relaxed and effortless finish.
Style 3: Bralettes with a kimono/formal Coat or Cardigan – If you are free-spirited and a lover of boho fashion trends, this is something you should try. A crocheted bralette will give the needed detail to be paired up with a plain kimono or cardigan sweater. You can also go for a smart casual look with a formal coat and a pair of heels.
Conclusion
Like every fashion piece in the market today, there are several ways to style an outfit. This is especially so for timeless fashion pieces such as the pleated skirt which has been around for decades and evolved to match current fashion trends. With these tips and styling ideas, plus size women will be able to wear nearly any pleated skirt and look fabulous!
