The Shorter The Skirt, The Better
When you think about miniskirts, you may be reminded of Paris Hilton famously saying, “Skirts should be the size of belts. Life’s short. Take risks.” Hilton responded with this in a video for W Magazine when asked to break down her favorite 2000s trends. And I can admit that I’ve never heard a more accurate statement. I’ve been reflecting a lot about life, you know, as one does. But, I’ve also been reflecting a lot about the miniskirt and how it’s taken the fashion space by storm yet again. I am inspired by the history of how the miniskirt even came about, the evolution of the mini skirt, and who we have to thank for pushing forward the movement of the miniskirt and what it represents.
It’s amazing to read about how a small piece of clothing can mean one thing to one person and something entirely different to someone else. For example, a micro miniskirt to the girl going out to Club Space in Miami means that she knows she looks good and feels good. She wants to show that extra skin and won’t hold back from doing so. But to someone like Mary Quant, it might mean something entirely different.
Who is Mary Quant? Strike history lesson! Class is in session. This is a good one, so sit tight. Mary Quant is a British fashion designer and the sole reason women are able to walk the runway and the streets in miniskirts. The designer would toy around with hemlines in the late 1950s, and in no time, the miniskirt was created. Models like Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton were styling the miniskirt, and that’s how you knew this wasn’t just a trend—it was and is a fashion statement. Mary Quant started a revolution when this clothing piece was being turned down by so many and there was no going back. Once the ‘90s arrived, all of your favorite pop girlies were stunting with variations of miniskirts. Celebrities like Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, and Jessica Simpson proudly rocked the miniskirt, and looked hot doing so. It’s interesting to look back at because as we learn more about the miniskirt, we see the impact it’s had on fashion for women. Previously, most women simply wore what they felt comfortable in. Now, we know that the clothing you wear or how you dress does not define your worth. Icons like Britney and Beyonce were just ahead of the game.
Coming from someone who went to a school that required students to wear knee-length uniform skirts, I am just now starting to feel comfortable enough to participate in the miniskirt movement. It’s an interesting era to be in, but I’m glad I finally came to my senses because where the hell have I been? Missing out on all the fun because the shorter the skirt, the better. Wearing a micro skirt is more of a statement than anything else. And even though enough time has passed for society to understand that a piece of fabric does not diminish someone’s worth or intelligence, it does not mean that it’s settled into people’s small-minded brains. This means we just have to keep wearing the hell out of these miniskirts, not for anyone else except ourselves—whether you want to make a statement or because you know you look good. Just remember, the shorter the skirt, the better.
Strike Out,
Maria Paula Gonzales
Boca Raton
