Plissé Finishes: 4 Common Garments With Plissé Finishes

A plissé finish is a lightweight fabric that has a pleated, puckered, or crinkled effect. Plissé, derived from the French word for “fold,” is a type of crinkle crêpe fabric with a wrinkled surface that often appears as stripes or ridges. This surface creates an “accordion” effect on garments like lingerie, cardigans, T-shirts, and blouses.

You can find plissé finishes on many garments, including:

1. 1. Accordion skirts. One of the most common pieces with the signature pleating style is the long accordion skirt. Vertical pleats create a slimming effect for your silhouette. Pair the skirt with an off-the-shoulder top, a sequin tank, or a fitted cardigan.
2. 2. Button-up blouses. Long-sleeve blouses with a pleated pattern can add style to a business outfit or flair to an everyday ensemble. You can tuck the blouse into a pair of slacks, jeans, or leggings to elongate your frame.
3. 3. Cardigans. Wool-knit plissé cardigans can be a cozy choice for a fall or cool spring day. Plissé cardigans come in various sleeve options, like batwing, balloon, or slit, that you can wear with many outfit combinations, like jeans and a T-shirt or a blouse and a pencil skirt for office attire.
4. 4. T-shirts. Plissé T-shirts drape loosely on the body and can be a versatile yet comfortable choice for your outfit. You can pair them with a chunky necklace and dark denim jeans for a coffee date or denim shorts and sandals for a summer look.

While both seersucker and plissé fabrics are lightweight, the main difference between them lies in their weave. A seersucker weave is more complex than a plissé fabric, giving this cotton fabric more durability against ironing or washing treatments.

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