Throughout my life I’ve run the gamut of mini skirts. Ithink it started when Igot my first ra-ra skirt at about age eight. Irecall it in great detail. It was white with two tiers. Each tier was edged with satin ribbon in red and blue. It was athing of beauty. From there Imoved on to the puff ball, as influenced by Pepsi and Shirlie. When Ihit secondary school Ispent far too much time altering my school skirts so they were at an almost obscene level of mini-ness. Ihand sewed one that was so tight the stitches starting coming undone in double maths. Ihad to tie my jumper around my waist for the rest of the day or Imay have been sent home for indecent exposure.
At age 16 when we spent ALL our time thinking about what to wear to the local under-18 disco night at Rackstraws in Sandhurst (I just looked it up, it’s now aBeefeater restaurant *sobs*), Irecall wearing amicro skirt with long, almost thigh-high socks, held up by hair elastics that practically cut the circulation off at the knees. Ialso think Iwore atie and ablazer. This was pre-Britney and Clueless; we must have been so ahead of the curve. Ialso recall someone setting fire to my friend Michelle’s fake hairpiece by flicking alit Silk Cut on it from the balcony, but that’s another story. Plus Ican also still recite the ENTIRE rap from ‘I Need Love’ by LL Cool Jbecause it was played every SINGLE week and Inever once got asked to dance to it by that boy with the Sun In fringe who favoured apastel lemon blouson. He was admired only from afar. Funny I’ve not had much call to use my rap skills these days though. I’m wasted in thisgame…
Ahh, thanks for that trip down memory lane. It’s put asmile on my – much older – face. But mini skirts don’t have to live in the past. You CAN wear them at any age. It’s all about HOW you wearthem.
CORDUROY MINISKIRT
This whole blog was inspired by my purchase of this corduroy skirt from M&S, as ‘modelled’ above. It is solely responsible for my renewed love of amini skirt. Imust try not to rush out and buy four more that are similar but different, and just stick to wearing the one Ihave. In fact Iactually have two: Ihave ablack one from Hush as well, so Idefinitely don’t need any more. Iam abit annoyed that Isold all my leather skirts awhile back but I’ll get over it. Ithink the trick to ashort skirt is in the footwear and the outerwear. Aflat shoe, or at least one with alow block heel, works best for me. Or some boots. Idon’t really go abundle on tall boots but they would also work if you favour them. Also, alonger coat will make you feel more confident. There’s no fear of flashing your gusset when you have alonger coat on thego.
1. Oliver Bonas chambray denimshirt
2. Sticky Lemon Mama backpack
3. Warehouse cord button-through skirt
4. H&M long quiltedcoat
5. Arket chunky sole leather loafers
DENIM MINISKIRT
Who didn’t love adenim skirt in the 90s? Ispent hours unpicking my old jeans and sewing them together to make into skirts, even adding patches and trims. Can’t pretend that the bedazzler didn’t feature either. Iwas awhizz with the glue gun and the diamanté. These days, thankfully, less is more when it comes to embellishment. The simpler the denim skirt, the better. This one from APC is all class. I’d wear it with an oversized roll neck and apair of Chelsea boots.
1. Hush Meryl high neck jumper
2. Jasper Conran Alexis cross bodybag
3. Mango houndstooth wool blendcoat
4. APC denim miniskirt
5. Arket leather Chelseaboots
LEATHER MINISKIRT
So, you’ve got to think less Liz McDonald and more Kate Moss when it comes to the leather mini. Aloafer or apair of ballet flats rather than athigh boot or astiletto. Ahigh neck, rather than boobs on aplatter. That old adage of ‘legs or tit*’ does still ring true. I’ve never been blessed with boobs that could even make cleavage. Thinking about it, maybe that’s why Ialways went with the legs. I’ve mentioned tights before. They are important. Ilike agood 80–100 denier. My favourites are these by Falke. Not cheap, but last for years rather thanweeks.
1. Everlane Oversized Stroopwaffle turtleneck jumper
2. Gucci striped wool and leatherbag
3. Jigsaw navy Maxi CityCoat
4. Arket leather miniskirt
5. &Other Stories crystal buckle leather loafers
VELVET MINISKIRT
If you fancy going short short for anight out then why not look at avelvet mini? Keep it cute with some flat Mary Jane strap shoes and asimple black top. Ithink of velvet as the evening’s answer to corduroy so it definitely gets my vote, especially at this time ofyear.
1. Mulberry Lily leather handbag
2. Stand Maria check faux furcoat
3. Baukjen square necktop
4. &Other Stories floral button velvet miniskirt
5. Everlane velvet Mary Janeshoes
ANOTHER CORD MINISKIRT
Oh go on then, just because you can’t have too much cord. This is the Hush mini Ihave. It’s about 2cms longer than the M&S one and it’s adifferent colour, so Ican kind of justify having both. Iplan on wearing this with stripes and loafers. Loafers are my favourite to wear with short skirts. They are flat without being TOO flat and just the right side of smart without being at all tarty. In fact, thinking about it, Iwore my Shelley’s loafers with that Rackstraws outfit. Some things never change…
1. Green Thomas Love blanketscarf
2. Jigsaw Fishermans rib stripe jumper
3. Hush Sofia cord zip corduroy skirt
4. Albaray herringbone double breasted coat
5. M&S wide fit Leopard leather loafers
Next week I’ll attempt some out out outfits for you. Ishall out my personal feelings aside and even include afew sequins. There’s also afew midweeks posts coming up so look out for them. Don’t forget you can sign up to the mailing list here.
K x
As someone deeply entrenched in the world of fashion, particularly with a focus on skirts, I find myself uniquely positioned to dissect and provide insights into the nuances presented in the article. My expertise in fashion spans various styles and eras, allowing me to appreciate the evolution of trends mentioned in the text.
The author's journey through mini skirts, starting from the ra-ra skirt at age eight, reflects a personal connection to fashion that goes beyond mere observation. The vivid description of the white tiered skirt with satin ribbon details demonstrates an acute awareness of design elements. Moreover, the author's experimentation with altering school skirts to achieve a daring mini length showcases an early commitment to personal style.
The reminiscence of the under-18 disco nights and the meticulous recounting of outfit details, such as the micro skirt and thigh-high socks, underscore a firsthand experience with fashion trends prevalent during adolescence. The mention of setting fire to a friend's fake hairpiece adds a touch of humor and camaraderie, further emphasizing the author's immersion in the fashion subculture of their time.
Now, transitioning to the contemporary context of the article, the author seamlessly integrates personal experiences with a discussion on modern mini skirt trends. The focus on specific skirt types—corduroy, denim, leather, and velvet—reveals a nuanced understanding of materials and their impact on style.
The inclusion of outfit suggestions, complete with coordinating accessories and footwear, reflects a keen eye for fashion composition. For instance, the emphasis on footwear, whether a flat shoe, low block heel, or boots, underscores the importance of balance in styling short skirts. The mention of the longer coat as a confidence booster exhibits an understanding of how outerwear contributes to the overall aesthetic.
In conclusion, the author's journey through the evolution of mini skirts, coupled with contemporary fashion insights, paints a comprehensive picture of someone deeply immersed in the world of style. The detailed recommendations for each skirt type demonstrate a wealth of knowledge, making the article not only a nostalgic trip down memory lane but also a valuable guide for individuals navigating the complexities of wearing mini skirts in the present day.
