Despite all the controversies that came from clothes showing “too much skin”, most women still love wearing miniskirts. There are many types of miniskirts as we can see them everywhere around us, or when female celebrities wear them as well. That said, did you ever wonder what was the history of the mini-skirt? Let’s explore the different trends of the miniskirts, the stories behind them, and some interesting facts about this classic garment.
Top 3 iconic skirt moments
Women’s inspiration often comes from female celebrities or from their idols. Therefore, we prepared a small list of the top 3 celebrities that iconically pioneered miniskirts:
Madonna with white tulle skirt at the MTV Awards
At the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna Louise Ciccone, one of the biggest pop icons, literally rolled around the stage wearing a white tulle skirt. Funny enough, the latter also resembled a wedding dress. From there on out, her dress and performance “ Like A Virgin” were known around the world and got tons of interest.
Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman Movie
Julia Roberts became an overnight superstar with the success of the movie “Pretty Woman”. In the movie’s promoted photoshoot, she wore Roberts’ iconic short black skirt and thigh-high boots that were unique at the time.
Josephine Baker’s Banana Costume
During the 1920s, long hemlines were popular among the flappers. However, Josephine Baker stunned them all by wearing a miniskirt made from fake bananas during her performance of the “Danse Sauvage” at the Folies Bergère in Paris. Her performance and costume showed a blazing display of primitiveness and overturned stereotypes during that period which was a very powerful message. Furthermore, her dance and the miniskirt started an unprecedented revolution. Pictures of her wearing the skirt became highly popular. Even Beyoncé paid tribute to Josephine Baker by wearing a similar outfit a few years back.
Miniskirts’ trend timeline (the 1950s-2000s)
Miniskirts remained popular through the years since their first appearances. Here is the miniskirt history from the 1950s to the 2000s.
Miniskirts in the 1950s
Full skirts with the hemline reaching below the knees were popular to wear during this decade. Actually, the miniskirts during those days were mostly reserved for science fiction and making appearances on films such as Flight to Mars. Moreover, they have appeared on TV series like Space Patrol.
Miniskirts in the 1960s
British designer Mary Quant is credited for creating the modern miniskirt in 1964. Her revolutionary garment turned into an instant hit among teenagers. This is because it paved the way for young women to express their sexual freedom and their taste in fashion.
Miniskirts in the 1970s
During the 1970s, miniskirts faded away. Nonetheless, a blondie lead singer, Debbie Harry, made miniskirts well-known again by wearing them often when she performed on the stage. It initially became popular among punk music festivals and shows. Thereafter, that style spread to other demographics.
Miniskirts in the 1980s
The rah-rah or ra-ra skirt was a hot fashion trend and a successful attempt to bring back the miniskirt during the 1980s. This type of skirt was derived from regular cheerleading uniforms. Plus, most women began to wear short skirts as part of their office attire during that time.
Miniskirts in the 1990s
Miniskirts during the 1990s were just like the 1980s. They still continued to be the power suit for most of the women in the United States. Moreover, miniskirts were no longer just for girls and teenagers, but also a power statement for high-flying, career-oriented adult women.
For example, TV shows like Ally McBeal and Melrose Place largely affected the incorporation of miniskirts into office wardrobes. The sleek and neat look of business suit miniskirts really fit well with blazers and blouses. This not only gave women a beautiful and feminine look, but also a professional look all around.
Miniskirts in the 2000s
In the 2000s, celebrities such as Britney Spears and Paris Hilton began to wear midriff-baring tops. In the eyes of female fashionistas, such tops went well perfectly with the miniskirt. This was also the decade when celebrities such as Christina Aguilera made miniskirts the prime garment of choice on the red carpet.
How about miniskirts nowadays?
Miniskirts might have created many controversies, such as being too revealing or not appropriate. Nevertheless, many women insist on wearing them in order to maintain a fashionable look and express what they feel like. Moreover, there are even some males who started wearing skirts. For instance, a US male pop singer, Harry Styles, was wearing a skirt on the cover of Vogue on the 13th of November 2020. This shows that there are no boundaries to wear a skirt. Miniskirts are now normally seen among a majority of countries around the world.
Indeed, the miniskirt is not just a matter of women exposing their skin or choosing to wear a tight piece of clothing. It is also about defying the mainstream and breaking free. On that note, don’t be shy to grab your miniskirt and wear it next time you hang out with your friends or boyfriend.
