Suddenly, Every Chic Dresser Is Parking Their Jeans For These 7 Elegant Skirt Trends
Fran Lebowitz famously claims that “favourites are for children”. Whilst what I’m about to confess to might not garner the famed New York-based critic and essayist's approval—little does, anyway—but I simply have to own up to the fact that when it comes to bottoms, skirts really are my preferred shape to wear.
I’m not alone in preference, with the season’s balmy climate and scorching temperatures convincing even the most stringent trouser loyalist to consider the breezy elegance and romantic effortlessness of summer’s key skirt trends.
“Skirts are having a real moment this season,” echoes Laura Broque, the founder of Melbourne-based and Scandi-inspired womenswear label Henne. “Interpretations are varied, both on the runway and in real life,” she notes before adding, “so too are hemlines and the choice of fabrics, which makes the style hard to ignore as a wardrobe foundation for summer.”
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Of the biggest summer skirt trends defining this season, Broque notes that there’s a discernible balance between “feminine softness and minimalist edge that feels especially relevant”. She explains: “There’s a definite rise in midi hemlines, sleek pencil shapes, lace trims, low slung ‘90s styles and utility detailing. Our customers are embracing these styles already and are quickly becoming key silhouettes for summer.”
Of course, it’s easy to spot the inspiration behind these key summer skirt trends if you know where to look. A renewed interest in Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s off-duty wardrobe has thrust greyscale workwear and quite minimalist back into view, with these motifs being translated through body-conscious staples that graze the knee and austere basics that serve as a blank canvas for a riveting summer outfit.
A shift towards hybrid fashion—see: clothes that can serve multiple purposes—has also been embraced, leading to more functional silhouettes that are reminiscent of Miu Miu’s spring/summer 1999 and spring/summer 2023 collections.
On that note, Mrs. Prada has a quote that often stays with me whenever I need reminding of the power that a summer skirt holds. “For me, the skirt is like a T-shirt. I put all my ideas on the skirt... and you can put so much more creativity than trousers," she quipped during a sit-down interview in 2006.
