If You Buy One Skirt This Summer, Make It A Pleated Midi

As someone who’s a fan of androgyny and menswear-inspired pieces, the wearability of this season’s pleated skirt has taken me somewhat by surprise. I initially thought it was ladylike overload (pleats scream pretty, and the fullness of a pleated skirt is so overtly feminine). But in fact, what all this girlishness cries out for is a good dose of boyishness to undercut it and make it cool rather than cute. So, if like me you want to minimise the femininity factor, forget about strappy tops and sexy heels, and instead opt for a leather jacket and a pair of robust?flatforms, or a grandfather shirt and pair of metallic?brogues as a foil to the softness and fluidity of the skirt. If you work in the corporate world, leave?the biker jacket behind and opt for a black blazer instead. This will work just as well with a pair of platform wedges at dialling down the delicate, dainty nature of the pleats. And topping and tailing your look with black, no-nonsense basics?ensures you’re as suitably dress for the boardroom as you are for the bar after work. And for those of you who can’t resist a heel in summer, make your look’more modern by choosing an ankle or T-bar strap and a mid-height heel. Three inches just looks try hard. Here are nine?of the best pleated skirts for SS16.