"I bet you remember where you were when you heard the news…..pleats are back. Yes, pleats. This is a trend nye-on impossible to get right, but it’s broken out alright and rather like the global epidemics of yore, we have to stiffen our upper lips and power through it. Knife pleat? Knife edge more like!
I'm desperately searching for a silver lining in this ominous trend storm cloud. Trying to leap the wide hips hurdle, block out the school uniform connotations, dodge the ‘anyone for tennis’ circa 1940 bullet and sidestep the collecting-pension-chic landmine, it seems to me that this requires patience and planning – much like shopping at TK Maxx or participating in an episode of 'Total Wipeout'. The best swatch of lining I could find was this – at least there’s variety...
Amongst many of the September shows, pleats featured heavily at the Chloe, Christopher Kane and House of Holland catwalks for SS11. As we all know, it’s one thing seeing it on a runway but it’s another waiting for a bus, pushing a trolley around the supermarket or rocking up to your after work drinks, this trend is one thing if not very niche.
Olivia Palermo is Page One culprit, who frankly is driving fear into the trend aware. Seen at London Fashion Week days before her 25th birthday looking like she should have accessorised with a small dog, some sensible shoes and a pair of bi-focals. Oh, and Taylor Swift – very sweet that she tries to bring in an element of cool to her dowdy look, but run me through which 'style' aficionado is advising her to wear black leather sun-ray pleats with patterned tights and knee high boots? Yup - this is the middle of the road gal that sings about Romeo and Juliet.
Overcoming all the odds and actually getting it right is the lovely Rhianna. She wore a knit skirt with total school-grey gym-skirt swagger. And SJP rocks a purple mini ruffle-tasitique delight. Thank God for Patricia Field (Costume Director on SATC) and her relationship with New York heritage brand Halston – THIS is how to wear pleats.
Personally I think dresses are the best way to integrate this trend into a normal life. The front runners for me are at Mango, Le Petite Salope and the body-con take on pleat at Phase Eight.
Frankly the only person that seamlessly pulled this look off is Marilyn Monroe in 1955. All you need is a strategic underground air vent, a photographer at the ready and world famous renown. Or... maybe I'll avoid pleats altogether. "
Olivia Palermo is Page One culprit, who frankly is driving fear into the trend aware. Seen at London Fashion Week days before her 25th birthday looking like she should have accessorised with a small dog, some sensible shoes and a pair of bi-focals. Oh, and Taylor Swift – very sweet that she tries to bring in an element of cool to her dowdy look, but run me through which 'style' aficionado is advising her to wear black leather sun-ray pleats with patterned tights and knee high boots? Yup - this is the middle of the road gal that sings about Romeo and Juliet.
Overcoming all the odds and actually getting it right is the lovely Rhianna. She wore a knit skirt with total school-grey gym-skirt swagger. And SJP rocks a purple mini ruffle-tasitique delight. Thank God for Patricia Field (Costume Director on SATC) and her relationship with New York heritage brand Halston – THIS is how to wear pleats.
Personally I think dresses are the best way to integrate this trend into a normal life. The front runners for me are at Mango, Le Petite Salope and the body-con take on pleat at Phase Eight.
Frankly the only person that seamlessly pulled this look off is Marilyn Monroe in 1955. All you need is a strategic underground air vent, a photographer at the ready and world famous renown. Or... maybe I'll avoid pleats altogether. " 
