The trusty pleat has been on a slow burn — shaking off those prim and proper headmistress connotations has taken a long time, but this year they’re positively cool.
Issey Myake, the Japanese designer, has been on the leading edge of pleat technology since decades. However his designs have always been expensive. He’s not the only designer playing with pleats.
Oscar de la Renta’s silk blend lamé dress with sunray pleats is almost too beautiful to wear — which is fine, because at £8,000 it’s also way too expensive for mere mortals to even dream of. Prada sent floral dresses with accordion pleats down their catwalk and Valentino’s light silk chiffon with knife pleat will look great for your next gala dinner, but at £6,000 is less suitable for the school run.
Maxi dress (left), £74, debenhams. com; platforms, £89, kurtgeiger.com; earrings, £14.99, zara.com and dress (right), £49.99, and heels, £79.99, zara. com; earrings, £24.99, tkmaxx.com
Dress (left), £380, Pleats Please Issey Miyake at fenwick.co.uk; heels, £29.99, zara.com and Dress, £126, karenmillen. com; heels, £159, kurtgeiger.com; earrings, £8, boohoo.com (right)
Good news: What happens on the catwalk is always transmitted to the real world. The High Street has been having a fling with pleat skirts for a couple of seasons, but now it’s all about statement dresses. And the brighter the better — January is grim enough.
These folds are forgiving and easy, instantly elegant, there’s a freedom of movement and they’re never clingy. Post-Christmas, they aren’t just wonderfully comfortable, they’re flattering and timeless too.
What’s the best thing? They don’t crease. They are perfectly elastic, so the wearer of pleats always appears elegant.
Yes, these dresses may be beautiful, but they’re practical too. All bar the Karen Millen design are machine washable — and they don’t need to be ironed. You can put them on again right out of the washing machine. Heaven!
Dress, £515, isseymiyake. com; heels, £79.99, zara. com; earrings, £29.99, tkmaxx.com (left) and Dress, £225, Pleats Please Issey Miyake at fenwick.co.uk; heels, £79.99, zara.com; earrings, £125, merola.co.uk (right)
Dress, £49.99, and heels, £29.99, zara.com (left) and Dress, £176, jigsawonline. com; shoes, £130, dunelondon.com (right)
If you had a frugal Christmas, treat yourself to something from the iconic Issey Miyake’s Pleats Please collection — the pale-blue stripe and striking pink are equally spectacular.
Are you feeling a little sluggish? Zara’s high-necked, blue sleeveless blouse has a great waistband and can be worn when you feel more put together. If it’s an eye-catching design you’re after, Karen Millen with its floral print should be your first port of call.
For those who really desire to be noticed, scarlet pin-tucks with bold sleeves will make you stand out.