Peplum Clothing Trend

Add a little flair to your outfit with one of the year’s most popular trends: peplum clothing. Inspired by a outfits from the 1950’s, the peplum shape has been seen on dresses, skirts, blouses, and even jackets. The trendy peplum silhouette flares out at the waist, instantly giving your body a curvy, hourglass shape. As a petite girl myself, I would definitely consider wearing this silhouette to give the illusion of hips.

In the photos below, I show you how you can wear the popular peplum trend for a variety of occasions — ranging from an evening out (peplum dresses) to a day at the office (a peplum skirt and sweater).

Forever 21 Lace Peplum Dress   |  LuLu’s Candy Orange Dress   |   LuLu’s Red Peplum Dress

How to Wear a Peplum Dress

Peplum dresses are an easy way to make a statement. If you want to go bold, choose a bright color like the reds and oranges above. It’s best to keep accessories minimal since the peplum itself is such a stand-out feature. Opt for a simple necklace and some killer heels.

Lastly, pay attention to where the peplum hits on the bodice of the dress. Higher peplums will cinch your waist (which, IMO, is the entire point of the peplum style), while anything too low will cut off your torso (but if you’re tall you can rock this style). If you’re petite, look for smaller peplums (like the two options on the left and middle) vs. a larger peplum (like the option on the right) that won’t overwhelm your small frame.

ModCloth Skirt   |   Monsoon Peplum Cardigan

How to Wear Peplum at the Office

Peplum is a trend that can easily be worn to the office. To avoid looking like a tiered birthday cake, opt for one peplum piece (either on top or bottom). A cardigan sweater or a pencil skirt are workwear staples that can be taken to the next level with embellishments like peplum. Keep the color palette fairly muted so it’s office-appropriate, and you’re good to go!

More Peplum Outfit Ideas

When in doubt, pair a peplum top with something skinny and sleek on bottom (like skinny jeans or a pair of denim shorts). You can see how I styled peplum casually previously in these outfit posts:

• Styling a Striped Peplum Top
• How to Wear Chartreuse