Figl A-Line Skirt with Front and Back Pleat, Knee Length

An A-line skirt with one deep pleat front and back

This A-line skirt by Figl sits on the waist and widens to the knee. A single deep pleat runs down the centre front, and a second one down the back, so the skirt swings when you walk and hangs flat when you stand still.

It is 58 to 59.5 cm long, made of 65% polyester and 35% viscose, and closes with a concealed zip at the side. Two colours: yellow and pink.

At a glance

The piece: Figl models 132468 and 132469

The maker's description is refreshingly dry: an A-line midi skirt with a concealed zip at the side, pleats at the back and front, no pockets, unlined. That is the whole skirt.

Model 132468 is the yellow one, a mustard yellow in the photos. Model 132469 is listed as pink and looks coral on screen, which is also what our colour button calls it. The maker speaks of "contrast pleats". In the photos the pleats are the same colour as the rest, so read that as pleats that stand out by their depth.

Who it's for

For you if you wear skirts to work and want colour without a print. A plain coral or mustard skirt with a white or black top is an outfit you can put together half asleep.

It also suits anyone who finds pencil skirts tight around the thighs. The A-line and the pleats give room to cycle, climb stairs and sit. Two honest limits: there are no pockets and there is no lining.

Closer look: what the maker states and what the photos show

• A-line cut (maker's data)
• Concealed zip fastening at the side (maker's data)
• Pleats at the front and the back (maker's data); one deep inverted pleat on each side, starting just below the waistband (photos)
• No pockets, unlined (maker's data)
• Flat waistband with a small gold-tone metal tag (photos)
• Hem at the knee on the model (photos; 58 to 59.5 cm in the size table)

Fabric and feel: polyester with 35% viscose

The fabric is 65% polyester and 35% viscose. There is no stretch fibre in the mix, so the size has to be right at the waist. In the photos the cloth is matte with some body: the pleat keeps a sharp fold and the hem stands slightly away from the legs.

The skirt is unlined. With bare legs in summer that is pleasant. Over tights in winter an unlined skirt can creep up, and a slip underneath solves that.

Fit and silhouette: on the waist, to the knee

The maker gives the waist as 72 cm in S, 76 cm in M, 80 cm in L and 84 cm in XL, with hips of 96 to 108 cm. Length barely changes: 58 cm in S and 59.5 cm in XL.

Because the fabric does not stretch, measure your waist where you want the band to sit and pick the size at or just above that number. The hips are generous by design, so they will rarely decide your size.

Size chart (cm)

Source: the maker's size table. Waist and hips are given as full widths around the skirt; compare them with a skirt that fits you.

Styling: tuck something in

In the photos the mustard skirt is worn with a black V-neck top and black pointed heels, the coral one with a white top and nude pumps. Both tops are tucked in, and that is the rule for this skirt: the waistband should be visible.

A fine-knit sweater tucked at the front works in autumn, with ankle boots and tights in a darker shade. In summer, try a striped T-shirt and flat sandals. A cropped jacket that stops at the waistband keeps the A-line clear; a long blazer hides it.

Occasions

This is an office skirt first. It is knee length, plain and neat enough for a presentation. After work it goes to dinner without a change of clothes.

The coral is also a good pick for a spring birthday or a communion lunch, and the mustard comes into its own in September with brown boots.

Care: follow the label

The maker's data has no washing instructions, so follow the label sewn into the skirt.

One practical habit: hang the skirt by its waistband after washing and smooth the two pleats with your hand while the fabric is still damp. They dry in shape and you save yourself some pressing.

The wow detail: the pleat opens when you move

Standing still, the front of the skirt looks like one flat panel with a line down the middle. Take a step and the line opens into a deep fold of extra fabric, then closes again. The back does the same. It is a simple piece of pattern cutting, and it is the reason this skirt moves so much more than its plain front suggests.

Fashion that gives back

5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose. You pick it at checkout from causes linked to 11 of the 17 SDGs, the global goals of the United Nations.

Our promise

Ships from the maker's wholesale partner in Poland, inside the EU, with tracking. The wholesaler lists up to 5 days to prepare an order; within the EU delivery usually takes 2–7 business days after dispatch. Delivery is free within the EU on orders from €69; below that it costs €4.95 in the Netherlands and €6.95 elsewhere in the EU.

You have 14 days after delivery to ask for a return, as long as the skirt is unworn and still has its tags. Our promise is plain: if what arrives does not match what this page says, send it back within 14 days and we refund you.

More skirts and trousers are in our women's bottoms collection.