Cold’s out, legs out
Born from British youth culture and a desire for freedom, the mini skirt is set to be the revival of the season
Hems and waistlines have danced around heights for years. From extremely low waisted jeans to teasingly short skirts, fashion has seen it all. With most clothing becoming decadent, as style constantly evolves, very few items resist the test of time and manage to become true classics.
The mini skirt is more than just a stylish garment. Rooted in the women’s liberation movement and the rebellious youth culture of the sixties, the mini-skirt holds an incomparable cultural significance. Mary Quant, widely known as the mother of the mini skirt, was inspired by the energy of the British youth and their desire for rebelliousness, freedom, and fun.
As the decades go by, the mini skirt has yet to lose any of its appeals. “The mini skirt has been a favourite piece in my wardrobe for years now, it’s so simple and easy to wear,” says Lauren Woodward, a fashion journalism student at London College of Fashion, “it can be worn with virtually anything and, in my eyes, is just as essential as jeans are as a building block to any outfit.”
Revived by pop culture icons such as Twiggy and everyone’s favourite schoolgirl Cher from Clueless, the mini skirt look set a new standard for beauty that saw old glamour kicked to the corner and replaced by a feeling of everlasting youth, independence, and universal fun.
This cold season, balance speaks higher. “I generally layer up on the top half of my outfit making sure at least half of my body is super warm,” says Grandy Kat, blogger at Style Grande, “I hate wearing tights with a passion, so I feel like because my top half is super warm exposing a little leg doesn’t hurt.”
But with all the available legwear, tights are also an option when rocking a mini skirt this winter. “Tights worn with a patent leather shoe or a suede ankle boot is a great go-to look,” says Woodward.
The options are endless and the looks diverse. From leather, suede, and this season’s addition, vinyl, the mini skirt lets you choose between daring, bold, classic, and elegant looks. The ever-iconic mini-skirt stays essential season upon season.
Originally published on _shift London | November 2017.
