The mini skirt has made a major comeback in fashion this season. First popularized in the 1960s, this limit-testing trend was born of a widespread youth culture movement which went against the clothing standards of post-war fashion.
The trend experienced a resurgence in the late 90s and early 2000s, and it seems that now in the 2020s, the mini skirt is back yet again. We’ve seen during these recent Fashion Weeks — both SS21 and FW21 — the frequent referencing of the 60s and 90s from a number of different designers. Given this style cycle, it becomes less surprising to see these micro length skirts back on the runway and the street in 2021.
Autumn wear: Mini skirts aren’t just for Summer
Although the mini skirt may seem like a garment reserved for warm weather, it can also be worn during the colder months when styled accordingly, and our trend forecasts can attest. For instance, pairing a mini skirt with stockings, chunky boots and a warm sweater can be a perfect wintertime look. And it seems that consumers have caught on to these styling possibilities: this Fall 2021 among women in the US, we predict the mini skirt to rise by +8%, and in Europe, by +10%.
Less is more: The barely-there womenswear trend
But of course, the Summer months will always champion the mini skirt: under the hot sun, the less layering, the better. Designers this year have indeed been leaning into the less is more philosophy, with trends including sheer fabrics as a layering piece and strategically-placed holes to show skin appearing in a number of collections recently.
Curious about 2021 pandemic trends according to Heuritech and Pantone?
The mini skirt fits perfectly with this theme: some brands that have recently included the garment in their collections include Isa Boulder, Miu Miu, Karla Laidlaw, Giambattista Valli, and Miaou.
At Giambattista Valli, the mini skirt is revisited with white floral lace detailing and a pearl belt, which add an innocent flair to the cheeky garment. At Miu Miu, the mini skirt is as mini as it gets: short and low-waisted, Miu Miu’s mini skirt is an eye-catching baby pink.
Giambattista Valli Miu Miu Coperni
As we can see, the mini skirt can be found in any pattern, silhouette, or material, making it an ideal garment for designers to express their creativity. And as a trend belonging to the youngest, most daring of Gen Zers and millennials, we forecast this garment’s social media visibility to continue to increase this year.
