The Skirt is Spring's Style Hero: A Fashion Writer Shares her Enduring Love Affair

Spring is the season of the skirt and I couldn't be happier. In my almost 30-year lifetime, as someone who has loved fashion since the day I could dress myself, skirts have always been one of my favorite wardrobe staples. Looking back to my early childhood years, it was all about full and flouncy ballet skirts, worn over leotards or underneath party dresses, made for spinning around and flaring out. The freedom and fun I associated with skirts changed as I got older; with hip-skimming mini skirts entering my wardrobe in my early teen years, usually met with a raised eyebrow response from my father. Then in my college years, the tighter the better, as we entered the era of bodycon and bandage skirts. Nowadays, I love to wear midi and maxi skirts as a more fun and interesting alternative to pants, and nothing beats a timeless leather mini skirt, which belongs in every wardrobe.

"Skirts are in full force for spring. They are incredibly exciting because you can really explore your personal style with all of the layering options around skirts. I'm really loving pencil skirts but there are also gorgeous full skirts, mini skirts, and lots of statement-making decorative skirts. It was Gucci's SS24 runway collection that really put skirts back on the map. I adored how Sabato de Sarno paired fun colorful vinyl pencil skirts with casual wear, like a gray sweatshirt, jean jacket, or an oversized sweater. It's all about the contrast — lady-like and boyish, refined and casual and fancy and every day, " says Sarah Meikle, fashion market director for Fashion Times.

The Coolest Skirt Styles Of the Season

If you're looking for some skirt inspiration for spring, we've broken down the hottest contenders for the season ahead.

The Going Out Skirt

As Tik Tok fashion commentator @hannahlizzy_ states, right now it's all about the "Going Out Skirt" which has replaced the "Going Out Top" when it comes to dressing up. It's a "Party on the Bottom" kind of look, on-theme with all the maximalist trends we've seen this spring that place the skirt as the centerpiece of every outfit. For a fanciful take look at Tove and 16Arlington who showcased feather-trimmed hemlines in their SS24 collections, or Dries Van Noten who delighted with sequin and embellishment skirts that make you want to get up and dance.

Sporty Luxe Tennis Skirts

Lust for tennis skirts is reaching fever pitch thanks to Zendaya slaying in tennis-core-inspired looks as she makes her red carpet rounds for her tennis-themed Challengers movie. And while we are all down for this sexy, sporty, and short new take on the skirt, fans of Clueless' Cher Horowitz can rejoice as a welcomed new twist in athleisure saw the return of preppy plaid pleated skirts on the runway. Along with white accessories, plenty of breezy white poplin skirts hit the runways, in chic midi and maxi A-line styles, often paired with black sandals and accessories. If you prefer some color in your closet, the 'pop of red' trend is going nowhere, and we also saw metallic foiled skirts and plenty of lively colored skirts dominating the catwalks.

The Naked Boho Skirt

Sheer fabrics are dominating spring fashion and the "naked skirt", popularized by celebrity style stars like Rihanna and Florence Pugh and on the boho-inspired runways of Chloe, has taken its rightful place as one of the most lusted-after skirts of the season. Not feeling brave enough? The double-layered skirts displayed on catwalks at Proenza Schouler and Sportmax are a more wearable alternative to the risquè style.