This Expensive-Looking Trend Will Make You Look Like You Got a Raise

by Anna LaPlaca

This fall, there are so many ways to make your outfits look more expensive. From leather separates to croc-effect accessories, there's no shortage of luxe-looking trends to choose from if you find yourself searching for ways to trick people into thinking you spent more on your outfit than you really did. And now we're adding one more expensive-looking trend to that list: pleated clothing, or, more specifically, plissé. It's the material that's defined by micro-pleats, which give it a crinkled or puckered effect.

Why is plissé so expensive-looking? For one, the crinkled effect obscures any and all wrinkles, so you always look fresh and put-together even if you've been wearing the garment all day long. Secondly, any article of clothing made from plissé is immediately more interesting than most other fabrics thanks to the pleated texture. As you'll see up ahead, the material can be found on dresses, tops, pants, and skirts this fall, and even though Pleats Please by Issey Miyake made plissé so covetable in the first place, everyone from affordable retailers like H&M and Topshop to luxury designers like Khaite are getting in on it right now, so you can achieve the luxe look no matter how much you're actually willing to spend.

Simply scroll down to see the pleated clothing trend IRL and then shop each of the items defining the look.