Think back if you will, to summer 2022, the height of the micro miniskirt revival. Miu Miu’s SS ’22 show reinvented everything we thought we knew about the mini skirt, debuting a utility-stroke-preppy mini not much thicker than a belt, and suddenly legs were back on the agenda and creating a hot talking point. The response of the general public? Immediately covering up, and by spring/summer 2023, the look du jour was the sweeping maxi, the very antithesis of teeny weeny skirt. But, as they say, fashion is cyclical, and as quickly as a trend comes around it can leave again, but if one thing is for certain, it’s that there is no getting rid of the mini.
As references to Y2K pop culture continue to dominate both the runways and street style, the divisive mini hemline is back, but this time is the turn of the far more wearable mini dress. Thanks in part to Sabato De Sarno’s Gucci debut and Hailey Beiber and Kendall Jenner’s affinity for bodycon minis, the short dress is a talking point again, and despite what the “hemline index” might suggest, we’re more keen than ever to swap winter warmers for something a little shorter. And with so many iconic references for inspiration, who could blame us? Think Carrie Bradshaw’s figure hugging charcoal dress, Princess Diana’s “revenge dress”, Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack dress. The list goes on; but so many of the best remembered dresses come up short (that is, on the leg).
The certain nostalgia that comes with the mini dress is no doubt a part of its appeal, and as the baby doll, bodycon, and slip dresses made their way down the runways for spring/summer 2024, it’s clear that the styles that we desperately wanted to wear as teenagers are making a fashionable comeback (curfew not included.)
So, how has the mini dress evolved for 2023 and beyond? Well, there is an all together chicer, more grown-up approach to tackling the shorter hemline. Dresses are minimalist, simple, and only show embellishment for evening. Brights and bold prints are far and few between as this time around its all about making bare legs the star of the show. Take Gucci’s satin dress and camel coat or Bally’s tank top dress and biker boots as proof, minis work surprisingly well with casual wear and plenty of less-is-more attitude.
But, I hear you ask, if the mini dress was shown in the spring/summer collections, how do I style it for autumn/winter? Easy. Long coats and tall boots happen to be the mini hems best friend, and when the weather gets particularly cold, just add a pair of tights. Nothing channels “back to business” energy quite like it.
So, if you’re convinced that the mini might just overtake the maxi for hemline hero next year, keep scrolling to see how the fashion set are wearing theirs, and to shop my favourite all-weather styles.
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