Fashion History – The Story of the Denim Skirt

Welcome to another fashion history spotlight from My Vintage. This week we are taking a more in-depth look at a modern fashion staple – the Denim skirt.

In the main, modern denim skirts are short. Sometimes mini but always above the knee. But on the contrary, this is definitely not how the denim skirt started out…

We have to thank the hippies of the 1970s for creating the denim skirt we know and love today. They first started back then making patchwork type skirts by cutting up old pairs of jeans and adding fabric to the middle triangle at the front and the back. Other denim skirts were literally made of of a variety of patches like these two fashionistas of the decade…

Fast forward to the 1980s and the denim skirts were looking pretty different than the bohemian hippy vibes of the 1970s. There were a lot of rar-rar frills, tiers, lace trims and puffiness but then again it was the 80s!

The most popular denims of the 80s were acid wash and stone wash as perfectly demonstrated by this fabulous catalogue entry!

Whilst we now see many 80s denim trends in modern fashion such as mom jeans and cut off denim shorts, the denim skirt still had some evolving to do before it reached us today. Which brings s nicely into the 90s!

Denim was used and abused in the 90s on many a catwalk and award ceremony. We’re talking everything from double denim to chains and harnesses and super mini cut offs to badly fitting midis. It was all going on even into the early 00’s!

Just incase you have managed to completely erase these images from your mind, I have found some cracking examples of 90-00’s denim disasters!

After about 2005 the denim skirt all but disappeared for several years and many a fashion season. But in recent years we have seen it make a firm comeback in the style stakes and that makes us very pleased indeed!

Here are some examples of celebrities getting it just right…

In the main, the denim skirt has been streamlined for modern fashion, but there are still strong influences from the 1960s and 1980s. And that’s where My Vintage come in!

We have some great original vintage denim skirts and here is a round up of my current favourites…

So don’t forget that vintage isn’t just about pretty dresses; you can also find a huge host of amazing vintage separates that will work perfectly in your modern wardrobe.

I will see you again very soon for another installment.

Bye for now
Em
x