Fashion choices today are boundless. Want to rock a tuxedo suit? Absolutely! How about bike shorts and a blazer for a chic street style? Go for it! However, it wasn't always this way for women, with fewer options available in the past.
Throughout history, skirts and dresses have been essential to women's wardrobes. It wasn't until the 1950s that women embraced pants and trousers, sparking a fashion revolution.
From petticoats and corsets to Dior's iconic New Look in the 1950s, the evolution of skirts has been remarkable.
The Evolution Of The Mini Skirt
The miniskirt, now a wardrobe staple, has a history of rebellion and sixties hedonism. The idea of a shortened hemline dates back to 4700 BC to the Egyptian times, but the modern miniskirt was born in the 60s, thanks to Mary Quant.
Dame Mary Quant's miniskirt revolutionised the fashion industry by deviating from the traditional knee-length or longer skirts that were popular at the time, but the popularity of the miniskirt can be attributed to several influential figures throughout history.
From Nancy Sinatra’s style to Jane Birkin naked dress, from the ‘90s supermodels to the Y2K influential girls’ micro skirt, we’ve seen the mini skirt on a countless amount of women, whether famous or not.
In the '80s, pop icons Madonna and Cyndi Lauper helped popularise the item through their performances and music videos; and the '90s saw Julia Roberts in a micro miniskirt and thigh-high boots in the hit film "Pretty Woman." However, the first actress to wear a miniskirt on film was Brigitte Bardot in Roger Vadim's 1956 film "And God Created Woman"!
This fashion piece has kept changing all the way through the early 2000s with the birth of the micro mini and up until Miu Miu’s spring 2022 micro miniskirt put this back into the spotlight. Today, the miniskirt trend has stopped being so much a trend and has finally become more of a wardrobe staple for every woman. Although it’s normal to forget the social statement behind this garment when we just wear it every day, I think it’s so important to be aware of just how much these women have changed the fashion history for us all…
The Evolution Of The Maxi Skirt
Before the miniskirt emerged as a trend and social statement, maxi skirts and dresses were the standard attire for women – not minis or trousers. Over time, these garments have undergone significant transformations though, from a modest piece to a stylish item.
Originally, ankle-length skirts were not about fashion but were necessitated by social conventions and practical requirements. As the 20th century unfolded, the maxi skirt began to represent more than just modesty – it became a platform for expression, grace, and at times, defiance. The fashion revolution of the 1960s and 1970s played a pivotal role in shaping the maxi skirt. In fact, from the bohemians of the 1960s to the punks of the 1970s, each era infused this piece with unique meanings.
After waning in popularity following the miniskirt craze, the maxi skirt is now enjoying a resurgence in the 21st century, thanks to platforms like TikTok and the enthusiasm of Gen Z for the '90s and Y2K fashion.
In contrast to its earlier associations with bohemian or hippie trends, today's long skirts offer a versatile aesthetic that can be dressed up or down. What distinguishes the contemporary maxi skirt is its fusion of past trends into a single, stylish look. Any type of long skirt, particularly a maxi, is a chic option that enhances your ensemble with a fashionable flair.
