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?

Excellent, that's my Halloween costume sorted...one of the nuns from school. Now, does Rita also have a line in wimples?

Christ, that was actually my school skirt. An ingenious choice, because it was too long for anyone to bother rolling up the hem. Although it was the grunge era when I was at school and one fashionable girl actually let the hem down on hers, allowing it to fray stylishly.

Unless you're under 20 you won't look a schoolgirl. You'll look like grown up woman wearing a long pleated skirt.If I saw you wearing it, it wouldn't enter my head to think that. But it's academic now as you've been talked out of it.

Here's more examples. None of them look like schoolgirls.

Pleated skirt
Pleated skirt
Pleated skirt
Navy pleated skirt
Skort

Hmm, other than the roll neck thermal, that first link is more or less my school uniform. With a different jumper it would be lovely. The others are a bit less school-y, though the navy one is a judgement call.

The problem with the Primark one in the OP is that it's polyester, so the weight and drape of it will be much more like a school skirt than a Max Mara one in wool. It's got "this has to be ready to wear straight out of the tumble dryer, mum has no time to iron" vibes.

😂😂

That was the style mid 80s at our school in the 4th and 5th year, long pleated skirts, chelsea boots or Shellys brogues, rumpled socks.
Shorter skirts were deeply untrendy

All of those grey ones were exactly what we wore, the more pleats the better, really heavy grey skirts. Of course none of us could afford wool, out and out polyester was where it was at!

It's the way they've styled it.

Put it with black Doc Martens or similar flat boots, black leggings and a black chunky sweater and it wouldn't look like a school skirt. Or go with full on layers; style it with a shorter striped or check dress and a cardi on top.

It could be a useful basic but you need to think arty or gothic because as office wear with white blouse and loafers, yes, it will look like a school skirt.

I quite like it!

It’s just about what to pair it with.

I think the polo neck suggestion above was good, and knee high boots can work well with longer skirts - but nothing too doc marten-ish!

Nicole fahri had a similar skirt on their mannequins many years ago ( though not grey) and it was more or less sold with a cropped cashmere cardigan, but much more fitted and cropped than a school cardigan and the skirt was worn with the waist very fitting.

If you are keen kn the look of a grey pleated skirt, Uniqlo are currently selling dark and light grey pleated midi skirts - but they are sunray pleats so less school uniform like.

Yeah I can't wrap my head on how to style that without the schoolgirl vibe.

However I have my eye on this pleated skirt....the link is to the cream one but I like the one in black.

https://www.riverisland.com/p/cream-faux-leather-pleated-midi-skirt-912714?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw99e4BhDiARIsAISE7P8N9MKqvxxB_l3eh8BvKSyh1a-Sgav_z24g817F7aOXSLR1p-7QqmoaAk4dEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

No, you won't. Just style with a great sweater, kitten heels/chunky shoes and jewellery à la Mrs Prada.

Mrs Prada. More Mrs Prada

The problem with threads like this is that none of us know what the OP's personal stye is so it becomes meaningless.

We have back to back try DM's/No DM's, high boots cropped cardi vs kitten heels and jewellery... But the reality is that none of us know if she wants smart office, casual chic, Dark Academia or full on grunge.

It's the same with most of the "tell me what to wear for x occasion" or "what do I wear with this?". Unless you know someone's basic style it is difficult to advise.

Well, I think you could wear it with anything or style it any particular way and it’s STILL going to look like a first year school skirt, that the Mum bought with the immortal words “But you’ll grow into it…..”.

An elderly schoolgirl wearing her big sister’s skirt.

You could always roll it up to your mid thigh as soon as you leave the house.

My school skirt was grey pleats. I'm boggled at how so many of you think these outfits make the wearers look like schoolgirls.

The Max Mara and Plumo skirts are gorgeous. The way the OP's one has been styled isn't great but if it were styled with a jumper and boots it'd be fine.

Will be fine till the nuns bring out the ruler....

I like it, I find mid calf length skirts really cut you up though.

Don't pair it with a white cropped polo shirt though!

I love it ❤️

I had exactly that skirt for my A levels! I definitely couldn't get away with wearing it now!

I love the max mara one.

The reason they are sometimes used for school uniforms is because they are a classic style. Provided you don’t wear a tie and cardigan it isn’t really that uniformish.

Me too. The Plumo kilt is gorgeous too. The Max Mara model is clearly not school age. The Plumo model won't be either but could conceivably be cast as a teenager in an American high school movie but she doesn't look like a school girl either.