A denim mini skirt joins two revolutions, the short hem of 1960s London and the blue jean of the counterculture. The V&A credits Mary Quant, who opened Bazaar on the King's Road in 1955, with popularizing very short hemlines, and the Museum at FIT says denim became tied to hippie counterculture in the 1960s. Here is how to choose a denim mini skirt that looks fresh and not nostalgic.
Denim Mini Skirt: Swinging London Meets the Blue Jean
Two revolutions in one hem
Mary Quant opened her Bazaar boutique on London's King's Road in 1955, and the V&A credits her with popularizing super-high hemlines, noting that Twiggy helped make the mini an international trend. The Museum at FIT says denim became closely associated with 1960s hippie counterculture and reached the mainstream by the early 1970s, when designers such as Yves Saint Laurent also used it. A denim mini skirt puts both histories on the same hip: youth and the working fabric.
The wash is the mood
A light wash looks summery and a little retro. A dark indigo looks sharp and works for the office. A black or gray wash looks edgy. Raw denim is stiff and shapes itself over time. Stretch denim is easier to sit in. Look for a pocket shape you like, since pockets decide the character of a skirt more than any other detail.
A-line, pencil or pleated
An A-line denim mini moves well and flatters most shapes. A straight one is clean and a bit tougher. A pleated one looks like a tennis skirt. In our fashion dreams she wears a dark denim mini with black tights, a chunky loafer and a cropped blazer, hurrying across campus. Choose a length that feels comfortable when you sit.
Wearing it across seasons
In summer, pair it with a tee and sandals. In fall, add tights and boots. Layer a long cardigan over it, or a trench. A denim mini is the friend who is easy to dress and easy to love, and a belt makes it look intentional.
What I would skip
I would skip a mini that rides up when you walk and a stiff, thin denim that bags at the seat. If you cannot sit comfortably in the fitting room, keep looking.
