By Ansharah Shakil If you’ve noticed the current resurgence in the popularity of denim skirts, you might be wondering when they were first popular, and why they’re coming back now. In 1873, Levi Strauss created the first pair of jeans, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that pants and jeans were widely worn by women. Amidst the James Dean and Marlon Brando-inspired jeans craze, Marilyn Monroe popularized denim for women in the 1961 film The Misfits, and at around the same time blue denim played a part in the movement for Black freedom. Originally associated with the working class and then with freedom and rebellion denim jeans changed the landscape of fashion. In the 1950s, so did jean shorts. In the 1970s, the combined popularity of jeans, jean shorts, and all-fabric mini skirts reached a head with the introduction of denim skirts. Part sustainable fashion, denim skirts were originally introduced as a way to recycle old jeans. Patchwork was particularly popular, but soon the denim rendition of the front-snap skirt and pencil skirt made its way to the fashion scene. The 80s introduced oversized denim jackets with matching denim skirts, mostly in acid-wash until the dawn of the 90s, where lighter, subdued shades of blue were filtered into denim and denim skirts. In the 90s, crop tops began to be worn with denim skirts, as seen by Pamela Anderson’s look below. Mini jean skirts were a favourite for teenage girls as soon as Britney Spears sported one on her legendary debut album cover, and Spears would be an avid lover of denim skirts (and denim) for all of the 2000s. By 2000, midi and maxi denim skirts, or mini denim skirts with tights or boots (or both), began to be worn, as well as detailings and additions to the fabric of jean skirts. Denim skirts were widely worn enough that they were not spared the unfortunate Y2K trend of wearing skirts over pants. In 2002, the front slit was added to denim skirts. This is something you will still see today, along with the back slit. Both are more popular than a side slit on denim skirts, but side slits are common to see as well. All three types allow for movement in a skirt that might otherwise be a bit restrictive, though comfortable. Denim skirts could be trendy and cute, or even business-casual, with high-waisted skirts and matching blazers. There were plenty of unique ways to wear the denim skirt, like Cameron Diaz’s questionable but iconic denim-skirt overalls. The 2010s went back and forth with all these trends, including coloured denim in 2019, but denim skirts didn’t quite reach the height of huge popularity — that is, until now, with the return of the long denim skirt. While shorter denim skirts are being seen as well, midi and maxi denim skirts have been having their moment in the sun since 2022 and are still holding out on strong this spring, especially with the current nostalgic longing for 90s fashion. We might start seeing more black denim skirts, or coloured ones, but for now, blue denim skirts are a closet staple. Thrifting is a great way to find a classic, vintage denim skirt, but they’re increasingly common in stores and online. Something about long denim skirts is effortlessly elegant. Mini jean skirts are especially cute paired with leggings or long boots, but I’d take long denim skirts over them any day. It elevates the look into being classy and at the same time down-to-earth. The fascinating history behind denim skirts ensures that they remain timeless and versatile. Whether they’re worn with oversized or cropped shirts, or whether they’re A-line or fishtail cuts, they can be styled in dozens of different ways. They’re the perfect skirt to ring in spring with. True, there are definitely a few styles of denim skirts I’m personally not a fan of and some I’d rather stay in the past — elasticated waistbands and tiered skirts, for one — but on the whole, once you’ve found your dream denim skirt it’s bound to change the way you approach your closet and even the way you think about fashion.
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