How to draw a pleated skirt

How To Draw a Pleated skirt is one of the most often searched drawing tutorials by artists around the world. This skirt never really goes out of style, does it? From fashion runways to fashion illustrations, designers all around the world love to create new pieces in a match with this beauty. Now let’s see which is the easiest way to draw it smoothly from the first time.

5/10

8 min

drawing paper
pencil
eraser
markers
colored pencils

Step 1: Set the skirt length

First, make sure you have sketched your fashion figure as a base. The next step is to mark the skirt length with a horizontal line. To make the pleated skirt appear more realistic curve the line slightly up. Add a similar line to mark the top end of the skirt – the belt.

Don’t draw them too thick since they will be erased soon. We only need them as guidelines.
* If you feel troubled to draw the fashion figure, use one from the Fashion Design Croquis section here.

Step 2: Draw the Skirt Outlines

The next step is to draw the belt – it can be thinner or thicker depending on your preferences. After you’re done with the belt, connect the belt to the skirt hemline. When drawing a pleated skirt keep in mind that the outlines are straight! There are no bulges at the top like in the flared skirt. Keep your lines close to the body at the hips area and extend wider at the hem of the skirt.

Step 3: Pleats guidelines

Draw 5 lines starting from the belt down. Make sure they are evenly spread through the skirt. The lines should stop almost at the center of the skirt’s length.

Please take in mind that the lines here don’t have to be completely straight, it is good if they have a little arch. Their purpose is to serve as centerlines for the pleats in the next step.

Step 3: Drawing the Pleats

Starting from the end of the previous guidelines, now draw 2 lines that are equally spreading away. Stop at the hemline! The pleats are firm folds, so make sure the lines are nice and straight – no wavy lines here!

Make sure that the distance between the pleats is larger that the pleats themselves.

Step 4: Add curves

When you are done with the pleats, now it’s time to add some curves on the hemline! For each of the 5 pleats draw a down-turned curve connecting both sides. Place the down-turned curves above the hem guideline.

Step 5: Finish the hemline

It’s time to close up the remaining gaps of the hemline. Connect them with “smiles” this time. Notice that the “smiles” are not end-to-end smoothly curved. There is an angle at the side of each “smile”

Let the shapes and sizes vary according to the pleats’ shapes.

Step 6: Add color and shading

Last but not least, put on some color and shading to make your pleated skirt look finished. First – color the skirt with any color of your likings. Then, using colored pencils and/or markers – find a darker color add shade the pleats darker to create the illusion of sinking in. In the end, with the help of a white-colored pencil, add some lights on the most bulging folds.

I hope this tutorial was useful and it helped you understand how to draw your pleated skirts in easy-to-follow steps. To make your skirt design pop up even more you can draw a belt over it or add a beautiful plaid pattern.

Happy drawing!