Item of the week: the mini skirt -

What it is:

The mini skirt has been at the centre of fashion for decades, acting as a
force for both controversial moments and definitive industry timestamps.
British designer Mary Quant is often credited with aiding in the rise of
the style, releasing above-the-knee skirts in 1964 labelled ‘the Mini’. The
skirt style continued to enjoy popularity throughout the ‘60s, the decade
in which it was officially considered a fashion trend, and came to fruition
again in the ‘00s, donned by the likes of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears,
the drivers of ‘Y2K’ fashion. It is this nostalgic trend that continues to
have influence over current fashion, as younger generations draw
inspiration from earlier pop culture looks – a likely cause for the
resurgence of the micro-mini – and designers are beginning to catch on.

Image: Scotch & Soda

Why you’ll want it:

It has been hard to avoid Miu Miu’s ultra mini interpretation of the skirt
style from its SS22 collection, as it continues to make its rounds on
celebrities, magazine covers and campaigns alike. In fact, since the
skirt’s debut in October, fashion search platform Lyst reported that the
demand for mini skirts was at a three-year high, with Miu Miu’s style alone
garnering almost 900 searches a day. Its popularity especially stems from
the younger Generation Z group, who are continuing to drive the ongoing
resurgence of Y2K fashion trends. While its place in fashion often
fluctuates, its regular appearance on multiple AW22 runways has cemented
its demand and place for the coming season too, ensuring the skirt style
will not be disappearing anytime soon.

Image: LILI SIDONIO

Where we’ve seen it:

Following in the footsteps of Miu Miu’s business-like, barely-there mini,
many designers have adopted the trend for their AW22 collections. Diesel’s
Glenn Martens was among those that turned heads for the coming season,
debuting a low-waisted ‘belt skirt’ that offered a contemporary take on the
Y2K look. Martens’ designs ranged from branded leather skirts to
deconstructed denim styles, complete with belt buckles. Dion Lee also
introduced its own version of the risqué micro trend, offering up a tiny
leather design also reminiscent of a belt. At London Fashion Week, Supriya
Lee was another to take the look on, presenting experimental wrap designs
that brought a more abstract approach to the trend, while 16Arlington’s
tiny designs consisted of subtle embellishments. Like Miu Miu, Versace
twisted up the business aesthetic, exhibiting pinstripe, houndstooth and
sparkly minis that brought a new meaning to office wear.

Image: Only

How to style it:

While luxury designers are opting for risqué, barely-there hemlines,
retailers and brands have introduced styles that are a bit more
user-friendly. This makes the mini skirt more approachable to those who are
maybe less comfortable with baring so much skin. For those that still
prefer the safer route, skin coloured or opaque tights are a quick fix and
also allow the design to cross over into the colder seasons. Pair the look
with knee-high boots, a long-line coat and jumper for a transitional outfit
perfect for autumn and winter. In the summer, rock the mini skirt with
sneakers and an oversized tee or layer up the look with a vest and linen
overshirt for a casual yet elevated look. A stylish alternative, if the
skirt is part of a co-ord, is to put the pieces together for a matching,
two-piece outfit that ties together effortlessly.

Image: The Kooples

The mini skirt has made its mark in past eras and is currently making its
mark in fashion now, revived as a daring but still approachable wardrobe
staple for those willing to push boundaries and step outside their comfort
zone. As designers continue to push the style in their collections, young
buyers are adopting the look as a fully reinvented trend from nostalgic
fashion eras.