One pleat, and the skirt comes alive
An A-line crepe skirt is ordinarily content with its fullness. This one has a focal point: a few centimetres from centre front, the fabric is twisted and caught in the waistband in a single pleat, which opens toward the hem and redistributes the volume to one side only. The rest is smooth, the waistband is flat, the zip is hidden at the back. From the front, the asymmetry is striking; from the back, the skirt is a black trapezoid without a single detail.
The Wearing Experience
- A flat waistband at front: no elastic visible under a tucked top: the waistband is straight, the zip hidden closes at the back
- Volume that moves: the pleat releases fabric to one side, and this excess opens as you walk then falls back when you stand still
- Midi length at the calf: it works with ankle boots as well as sandals, never catching at the knee
- Matte crepe: the lightly grained surface does not shine and does not mark sitting creases
Craftsmanship & Fabric
Composition: 100% viscose, crepe weave. Viscose crepe is heavier than muslin and more supple than linen: it hangs with weight, which extends the A-line and prevents the skirt from puffing like a corolla. This mass is what makes the pleat legible; a lighter fabric would let it float without direction.
The pleat is not a gather. The fabric is twisted on itself at the anchor point, then sewn into the waistband: the twist locks the direction of the pleat and the released fullness opens in a fan beneath this point. Because it is caught in the waistband and not stitched to the skirt, no seam appears at front. The flat waistband and back zip do the rest: nothing interrupts the front line. Our guide to the season's skirts returns to what an asymmetric point changes on a classic cut.
Styling Tips
- Ivory ribbed tank top tucked in and thin sandals: the light contrast on black brings out the pleat.
- Black fine knit tucked in, block heel ankle boots and opaque tights: the autumn outfit, monochrome.
- White shirt with rolled sleeves and ballet flats, the shirt tucked in only at front.
It joins the other pieces in our midi skirts section.
The same viscose crepe is used for the black long draped dress with front slit, built on the same idea of a pleat caught in the waist. For a cotton version with elasticated waist, see the black cotton midi skirt with drawstring.
Care Instructions
Hand wash at 30°C, inside out, without wringing. No bleach, no tumble dryer. Dry flat or on a clip hanger by the waistband, never by the hem. Iron on low heat inside out, repositioning the pleat by hand before ironing, without pressing it into a sharp crease: it should remain soft.
