The miniskirt has become a staple in many women’s wardrobes. Nowadays, It’s normal to see the silhouette on the runway or casually worn on the streets, no matter the season. However, the miniskirt wasn’t always such an everyday fashion piece.
History of the Miniskirt
The tale of short skirt predates modern civilization.
Archaeologists have uncovered figurines dating between 5400 to 4700 B.C. dressed in kilt-like coverings, and Ancient Egyptian frescos depicting people in similar garb.
![A photograph taken within the Tomb of Renni, the Overseer of the priests of Nekhbet at the time of Amenhotep I at Elkab, situated 90 km to the south of Thebes. Amenhotep I was the second Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty of Egypt. His reign is generally dated from 1526 to 1506 BC. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)](https://wwd.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-wwd-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif)
During the Warring States era of China from 476 B.C. to 221 B.C., men wore short skirts similar to kilts, too.
While the miniskirt is a tale as old as time, it wasn’t until the 20th century that it would slowly start becoming part of the modern fashion zeitgeist.
The Miniskirt Scandal
During the roaring ‘20s, hemlines began rising thanks to the advent of the flapper dresses. History-making entertainer Josephine Baker shocked the crowd when she wore a miniskirt made from bananas to perform “Folies Bergère” in Paris.
![American entertainer Josephine Baker (1906 - 1975), in costume for her famous 'banana dance', circa 1925. Baker was an overnight sensation when she arrived in Paris in the mid-1920s. (Photo by Walery/Getty Images)](https://wwd.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-wwd-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif)
But it wasn’t until a woman named Mary Quant came along that the miniskirt really took hold.
Meet Mary Quant
Dame Mary Quant was a British fashion designer famous for liberating women’s fashion in the ‘50s and ’60s. She passed away on Thursday at age 93.
Quant had a storied career and one of her claims to fame is popularizing short skirts, dubbing them “mini” skirts, as the public has come to know them.
Upon her death, her family noted that Quant “was one of the most internationally recognized fashion designers of the 20th century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging ’60s.”
![English fashion designer and fashion icon Mary Quant, wearing pink buttoned vest and black shirt underneath, circa 1975. (Photo by Fox Photos//Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://wwd.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-wwd-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif)
In 1958, Quant officially christened the miniskirt, inspired by the model car. Quant has acknowledged how the trend for rising hemlines was influenced by the emerging London street style. During the ‘50s and ‘60s, there was a shift toward breaking down formality.
Before Quant’s miniskirt revolution, skirts usually hit at or below the knee. The miniskirt has undergone many revolutions since it was first introduced by Quant.
Miniskirts on Earlier Runways
Miniskirts eventually hit runways in Paris, London, Milan and New York. Fashion designer André Courrèges began hiking up the hemlines for his runway shows, and in 1964 his runway collections featured space-age dresses fit for Jane Jetson from “The Jetsons,” albeit with higher hemlines.
During the ‘70s, miniskirts got a bolder and more colorful. At Jean Paul Gaultier’s 1979 runway show, he showcased playful miniskirts decorated with multicolored confetti triangles.
![Model wearing halter bikini top with flirty mini skirt decorated with multi-colored confetti triangles from the runway of Gaultier's 1979 ready to wear runway show (Photo by Fairchild Archive/Penske Media)](https://wwd.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-wwd-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif)
In the ‘80s, American fashion designers began taking the miniskirt seriously as a part of high fashion. Perry Ellis showcased his version of the silhouette at a 1980 runway show, pairing them with preppy sweaters and belted shirts and jackets. In 1988, Michael Kors embraced the miniskirt revolution with his collection of elegant business-inspired womenswear.
![Voluminous tucked blazer with tight miniskirt in the Michael Kors Spring 1988 show in New York (Photo by George Chinsee/WWD/Penske Media)](https://wwd.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-wwd-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif)
Women Who Helped Revolutionize the Miniskirt
Socialites, first ladies and celebrities helped popularize the miniskirt. In 1968, when Jackie Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis, she wore a short white pleated Valentino dress, creating a discussion surrounding the miniskirt.
![LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: A wedding dress belonging to Jackie Onassis from 1968 is shown in a catwalk display at the 'Valentino: Master of Couture' exhibition at Somerset House on November 28, 2012 in London, United Kingdom. Celebrating the life and work of the Italian master couturier, the show features over 130 hand crafted designs worn by Hollywood icons and Royalty. The exhibition runs from November 29, 2012 - March 3, 2013. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images for Somerset House)](https://wwd.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-wwd-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif)
During the ‘70s, rock band Blondie fronted by Debbie Harry saw the famed singer sporting miniskirts for many of their live performances and concerts.
The miniskirt trend was further popularized in the ‘80s thanks to pop stars Madonna and Cyndi Lauper who wore them for performances and in music videos.
The Miniskirt in Pop Culture & Film
Music wasn’t the only form of entertainment capitalizing on the miniskirt’s popularity, film got in on the action too. Julia Roberts in the ‘90s when wore a micro miniskirt and thigh-high boots in the hit film “Pretty Woman.”
![](https://wwd.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-wwd-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif)
However, French actress Brigitte Bardot is considered the first actress to wear a miniskirt on film in Roger Vadim’s 1956 film “And God Created Woman.”
Birth of the Micro Mini, the Miniskirt in the 2000s and Present
![Miu Miu RTW Spring 2022](https://wwd.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-wwd-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif)
When current Celine creative director Hedi Slimane led Saint Laurent as their creative director from 2012 to 2016, his collections were wrought with miniskirts, usually in black, channeling a sexy rock’n’roll aesthetic.
Slimane wasn’t the first creative director of Saint Laurent to bring the miniskirt into fashion for the brand. When Tom Ford helmed the label from 1999 to 2004, he showcased many miniskirts on the runway.
At their spring 2022 runway show, Miu Miu debuted a micro miniskirt that instantly went viral. The skirt ended up in multiple fashion magazine editorials from Vanity Fair to i-D, and is currently selling for around $2,000 on resale sites like Vestiaire.