An analytical model founded on geometric and potential energy principles for kink band deformation in laminated composite struts is presented. It is adapted from an earlier successful study on confined layered structures that was formulated to model kink band formation in the folding of geological layers. This study's principal aim was to explore the underlying mechanisms governing the kinking response of flat, laminated components comprising unidirectional composite laminae. A pilot parametric study indicates that the key features of the mechanical response are captured well and that quantitative comparisons with experiments presented in the literature are highly encouraging.