Will I look like an elderly school girl in this?

[Barmbraic]

https://www.primark.com/en-ie/p/rita-ora-pleated-midi-skirt-grey-991113105706
I was taken in by this grey pleated skirt, but now I'm having doubts. How can I wear it without looking like I've been held back a lot at school?

That was literally my school skirt.
I am also struggling with the burgundy thats so popular right now as that was the colour of my blazer

It would take some very careful styling to stop it looking like a school skirt your mums bought a bit long for you to grow into.

im not a big fan of clothes that require lots of effort to make them look good, there’s usually something else you can spend your money on that doesn’t need effort.

I saw a similar skirt somewhere else...Mango maybe...so they are clearly in trend but 14 years of grey skirts at school means that I can't bring myself to buy one at all.

Wear it with boots, and a polo-neck top. Absolutely no loafers, blazers or v-neck jumpers.

Probably steer clear of ponytails too.

Yes!

Yes

You would look like a typical new Year 7 who wasn't brave enough to roll it up yet!

You will
don’t buy it

As is often the case, it depends what you look like.

If you look like Rita Ora, you will be okay (or at least not look like an elderly schoolgirl). Otherwise there is a risk of looking a bit tragic.

Something has to be quite extreme for me to invoke age-appropriateness. A calf-length pleated skirt is not extreme by anyone's standards!

I like it - especially if it's got perma-pleats, otherwise I dislike it for ironing reasons. Just don't wear it with a plain collared shirt or a naff sweatshirt with a coat of arms 😂

Just don't roll it or you'll get put on detention 😁

It doesn't look great on the model...

This 😆

The skirt style with a top that's definitely not school uniform and shoes that aren't school shoes may make it look better but what were they thinking with the way they have styled it for the website! I hate grey as I wore to school

Well that's fairly unanimous!

I think I have too little imagination and too much of everything else to get away with it.

Amateurs, mine was up to my arse by the end of day 1

Step away from the skirt

It’s a very unflattering cut & length.

Don't despair! There are ways to style it which won't make you look like a schoolgirl, eg see how they have styled a similar skirt here.
https://shop.bianchetti.it/en/mobile/product/213-pure-wool-cardigan

Same! Especially with the loafers and white socks!!

When I went to grammar school in the 1960s, my mum bought me a duffel coat which was 'slightly too big to allow for growth'. When I was in the sixth form she at last agreed it could be shortened by 6 inches. It was like wearing a yurt...

And again same, although my waist was about 20 times thicker from all the extra fabric!! 😆

Don’t do it. Pleated skirts only look good on tall, thin, hip-less people. Don’t do it even if you are tall, thin and hip-less.

Brilliant, @CherryHinton