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Glite Dictionary
peplum

peplum

1 8.8
A short flared ruffle of fabric attached at the waist of a dress or jacket
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛpləm/
translation icon : peplum
  • This brand new dress had a lovely peplum below the waist, sweetheart neckline, and short puffed sleeves.
  • peplum skirt
  • peplum top

Examples

  • Last week I described the many ways to wear a peplum this fall, and this faux leather top nails two trends at once.

    Blog text (4)

  • The suit jacket has a little peplum skirt and wide lapels and shoulders.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • I'll do an OOTD for that sometime next week. I think I am wearing a new leopard print peplum top with black jeans and my tan wedge shoe boots from New Look that I love so much.

    Blog text (4)

  • Mocha is wearing a peplum top by Ashley Stewart.

  • The suit jacket has a little peplum skirt and wide lapels and shoulders.

  • Dortensia organizes her affairs wearing a Pyrenee lamb-suede peplum jacket trimmed and lined in lambswool.

Synonyms

frill
vspeplum
2 3.1

A strip of fabric gathered or folded and sewn as a decorative edge on clothing

is attached at the waist to flare or ruffle as a decorative detail
flounce
vspeplum
1 7.4

A strip of cloth with soft folds used to decorate clothes or curtains

is attached at the waist to create a flared decorative detail

Surface Forms

peplum singular
peplums plural

Etymology

Peplum comes from the Greek word peplos, which meant 'robe' or a cloth wrapped around the body; in fashion it first named a small overskirt or ruffle at the waist, like a tiny robe around the hips. That's why a peplum is the flared strip of fabric on a dress or jacket — it looks like a little skirt attached at the waist.