Ask anyone I grew up with and they'll probably tell you that it's no surprise I ended up working in fashion. A plaid green kilt was my uniform for nearly a decade, followed by a slightly more relaxed dress code full of khaki pants and blazers when I switched to a co-ed high school. Whenever I could, I rebelled.
Whether skirting the rules by wearing opaque tights with too-short skirts, or triggering updates to the dress code after I tied the ends of my hair hot pink á la Avril Lavigne, uniform dressing was decidedly not for me.
So color me shocked when the supremely stylish Lucy Boynton stepped out at the London photo call for A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, in head-to-toe Celine looking straight out of my yearbook—albeit, much more glam than your average '00s teen. Just swap Boynton's vest for a navy blue blazer and that's more or less the ensemble still buried in my hometown closet, Mary Janes and all.
On Lucy Boynton: Celine shirt, vest, skirt, and shoes
Don't get me wrong, I refuse to dig up my polyester plaid kilts, but Boynton's ensemble has me re-evaluating my stance on pleated skirts. I'm still not 100% convinced to submit to the knee-length requirement (I'm short, it's tough!), but I managed to find several skirts that fit the assignment.
Keep scrolling to shop several knee-length pleated skirts to embrace that prep school spirit, and leave the backpack behind in favor of a cute new (Celine?) bag. We're pretty sure you'll ace this assignment.
Shop Pleated Skirts
Imagine if your high school uniform was entirely Ref!
TBH, I wore tons of J.Crew in high school—and still do!
Don't miss the sweet bows on the back.
This wild pattern is worth the uniform violation.
Skirt the knee-length rules by wearing tights with this pretty pleated number.
Interesting closures add a bit of personality to this polished skirt.
The low-rise waist and slit makes this pleated A-line skirt more playful than preppy.
Burberry nails the classic skirt trend—in silk, no less!
Looking for preppy-inspired from a modern, designer pov? Thom Browne's your best bet.
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This Elegant Skirt Trend Resurfacing Just in Time for Spring Was Destined to HappenFollow Zoë Kravitz's lead.
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It's Starting to Look Like This Skirt Color Will Upend Last Year's White-Skirt TrendReady for a change?
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Kendall Jenner Wore the Trend Everyone With Taste Is Wearing in 2025A more formal take on model-off-duty style.
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Katie Holmes Is Signaling the Return of This Pretty '90s Skirt Trend -
This Dated Dress Trend Is Officially Everywhere Again (Like We Predicted)Shop the style inside.
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Reese Witherspoon Just Wore 2025's Next Designer Bag InfatuationThank you, Hedi Slimane.
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Quiet Luxury's Out—Here's How Stylish Women Are Wearing Loud Luxury's First Viral TrendIt's too chic.
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Kylie Jenner Just Wore Taylor Swift's Favorite Skirt Trend to the Chanel Show in ParisLove this for her.
