Self Drafted Pleated Skirt

The one thing I like about observing a fashion trend is how it gets interpreted.  From how it is constructed to how it can be worn.  The pleated skirt is a classic example of this and there are so many different constructions that I'm inspired to draft my own.

As simple as this self drafted skirt was in reality, it actually took me a while to figure out the silhouette I wanted and how I was going to create it.  From scouring Google for inspiration (above pictures from Shopbop and Reiss), my heart was set on something light, free flowing and dynamic, with an exposed waist band that cinched in at the waist.

I toyed a lot with fabric choice.  My original thought was to go with an accordion pleated chiffon, but then I found this grey metallic pleated jersey on Minerva Crafts that I thought would fit the bill better.

This fabric had lots of little pleats and to ensure this translated into the final skirt, I tacked all the pleats in place before I cut into the fabric.  I then cut the tacked pleated fabric a couple of inches wider than my waist measurement.  I didn't need to go wider than that as the tacked pleats ensured I had the volume I needed to keep the free flowing nature of the skirt.

My intent at the beginning was to make an unlined skirt, but when I started playing around with this fabric, I realised it was quite sheer and that a lining was essential.  So I made an a-line skirt out of grey stretch lining I found on Minerva.

The waistband was the easiest part of the skirt.  I found a folded waist band at Misan retail, which meant that both the lining and the skirt were captured within the waistband; giving a clean finish on the outside and the inside.

I love how it turned out in the end.  And actually surprised myself how close it was to my original vision of what the pleated skirt should look like.  Now I just need this lockdown to end so that I can wear it out.