
It girls in Downtown New York are wildly fascinated by this timeless skirt style.
I’ve never attended a private school, which could explain my fascination with the schoolgirl aesthetic. I have yet to encounter a pleated skirt that I don’t adore—especially when it's styled with knee-high socks and a playful Peter Pan collar button-down. This personal uniform makes me feel most authentically myself, which is amusing given how different it is from my actual life. But perhaps that's what draws me to it. I know I’m not the only one captivated by this style, and I credit designers like Sandy Liang, Miu Miu, and Prada for that. On their runways, models channel schoolgirl vibes, defying conventions with undone buttons and skirts that may be a tad too short. At Miu Miu, pleated skirts are worn with sporty swimsuits and layered with several belts. At Prada, a skirt is elegantly held by a leather belt featuring metal rings. Sandy Liang’s designs allow pleated skirts to be unfastened, exposing tiny shorts beneath. These styles have created an approach to dressing that has gained a following among a new generation of fashion enthusiasts. Nowadays, every individual in downtown New York seems to embody the schoolgirl look, and it’s a trend I’m not ready to move on from anytime soon. It has a timeless quality, it's enjoyable, and it expresses a part of me I’ve always known—while also allowing me to embrace a character I’m excited to become.
Shop the finest pleated skirts below—featuring, of course, designs from Prada, Miu Miu, and Sandy Liang, along with selections from Mango, Zara, and more.
- Mango: Skort With Pinstripe Pleats
- Reformation: Alyssa Low Waist Skirt
- Abercrombie & Fitch: Mid Rise Pleated Maxi Skirt
- Zara: Pleated Skirt With Heart Applique
- Prada: Suspended Leather Belt Pleated Wool Skirt
- Sandy Liang: Black Arne Midi Skirt
- Reformation: Mina Regenerative Merino Pleated Skirt
- Miu Miu: Knit and Poplin Pleated Miniskirt
- Paloma Wool: Gray Lai Midi Skirt
- Prada: Recycled Nylon Pleated Belted Midi Skirt
- Mango: Pleated Skirt With Belt
- Sandy Liang: Uniform Skort in Dark Navy
- ShuShu/Tong: Ssense Exclusive Black Miniskirt
- Sandro Paris: Short Checked Pleated Skirt
- Norma Kamali: Pleated Mini Skirt
- Chopova Lowena: Pleated Midi Skirt


















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It girls in Downtown New York are wildly fascinated by this timeless skirt style.
I can't stop putting it on.