Pleats, Please!

Darlings, this fall, it's all about pretty pleating! Before you go clothes shopping, be sure to pick up the essential tome on the subject:

Book: Leon Kalajian and George Kalajian, Pleating Fundamentals for Fashion Design, at schifferbooks.com. For seamstresses and fashion devotees alike, this lovely little volume offers both explicit instructions for sewers and exquisite depictions of pleats, from organic, handmade creations to machine pleating. 

Runway Inspiration: Dries Van Noten S/S 2014, pictured via Pinterest.

Sara Battaglia plisse mini leather bucket bag, at net-a-porter.com.

 Sacai velvet-trim pleated printed chiffon blouse, at net-a-porter.com.

Monse shirtdress with pleated skirt, at shopbazaar.com.

 Junya Watanabe asymmetric pleated tartan twill mini dress, at net-a-porter.com.

3.1 Phillip Lim white Origami pleat pants, at shopbazaar.com.

Facetasm layered jacquard skirt, at net-a-porter.com.

Gucci pleated printed silk-satin midi skirt, at net-a-porter.com.

Alaia pleated two-tone knitted midi skirt, at net-a-porter.com.

Valentino pleated silk skirt, at mytheresa.com.

Giambattista Valli pleated silk-crepe and tulle gown, at mytheresa.com.

Darlings, which of these pretty pleated pieces do you prefer?

xoxox,

CC

A is for Armadillo

You’ve seen the tiers and the ruffles. You’ve heard of box pleats, knife pleats, and inverted pleats. So what makes an armadillo? Glad you asked! Armadillo pleats are attached, parallel, and generally the same width throughout or gradually gradated.

At top of post:
Jil Sander advertising campaign, courtesy businessoffashion.net
On the runway:
Above left:
3.1 Phillip Lim tiered blue skirt, courtesy style.com



At near left:
Basso & Brooke orange armadillo pleat skirt;
this and next two photos via nymag.com
Calvin Klein Resort 2009
Proenza Schouler - the pleats are wider and more understated, but we have an armadillo nonetheless!
CC loooooves this blazer, too!

In the stores:
Lipsy bandeau dress (for this last gasp of summer!), at asos.com
Maison Martin Margiela silk tunic. Visit eLuxury.com
Mint Jodi Arnold mini dress. Visit net-a-porter.com
Madison Marcus layered dress, at pinkmascara.com
Fendi trapeze dress, on sale at net-a-porter.com
VPL Armadillo skirt, at shopbop.com
Rachel Roy silk tank top, at net-a-porter.com
Madison Marcus ombre cami. Go to intermixonline.com
Chloe clutch, pictured courtesy wwd.com
Christian Louboutin pleated leather bootie, at Bergdorf Goodman . . .

These lovely little Louboutins come in a variety of colors and styles (recall the lovely red peep toes in yesterday's post!).
Tune in tomorrow, darlings, for the letter B!