
There tends to be a focus on dresses come summertime and with this season's offering (patchwork, polka dot, slip and wrap, to name just a few), we understand why. Yet warm-weather wardrobes needn't be restricted to one piece of clothing – no matter how versatile – which is why we're zoning in on the skirt.
Often labelled as either dowdy or flirty, the skirt gets a bad rep. It's been making waves since the '50s, when below-the-knee circle skirts were worn by wholesome girl-next-door types à la Sandy in Grease. The Swinging Sixties brought rebellion to Carnaby Street in the form of the daring mini, which sat seven inches above the knee and signalled the changing attitudes of that decade's youth. A-line skirts ushered in the '70s, with fabrics like cord and suede becoming synonymous with bookish women like Love Story 's Ali MacGraw, while the '80s brought more questionable shapes – think Bananarama in ra-ra and puffball skirts (these made an unfortunate return in the early noughties, paired with giant belts...).
And now? Well, the skirt sits nicely in any wardrobe, thanks to the variety displayed on SS17's catwalks. The midi has been freed from its librarian shackles, while the mini no longer hints at teens climbing out of bedroom windows with a bottle of their parents' rum. Prada gave black satin skirts a utility update with belts and bumbags, Tory Burch proved the skirt could take centre stage with a dose of embroidery, and Altuzarra's frilled, fruity offerings made us long for a summer on Copacabana beach. Ashish paired political slogan T-shirts with full, layered ankle-grazers, while Toga, Topshop Unique and Osman showed us just how powerful a skirt-and-shirt pairing can be.
We're wearing ours with band tees, poplin shirts and boxy jackets, and pairing minis with flats and midis with heels for proportion play. There is no one style out there right now: fabrics range from patent to patchwork denim; there are pleats, ruffles, and waterfall hems, plus metallics, florals and gingham galore.
It's time to welcome back the skirt: click through to see our favourite minis and midis.

Mango Interwoven Cord Skirt, £15.99, available at Mango

Off-White Pleated Panel Skirt, £495, available at Farfetch

Weekday Brenda Skirt, £40, available at Weekday

Light Before Dark Vinyl Buckle Mini Skirt, £42, available at Urban Outfitters

Maggie Marilyn Composed Ruffled Striped Cotton-Poplin Mini Skirt, £415, available at Net-A-Porter

Reformation Delia Skirt, £113, available at Reformation

Uterqüe Pink Leather Skirt with Ruffled Trims, £175, available at Uterqüe

Victoria, Victoria Beckham Patchwork Denim Mini Skirt, £225, available at Net-A-Porter

Topshop MOTO Black Midi Denim Skirt, £34, available at Topshop

Dodo Bar Or Ruffle-Trimmed Printed Mini Wrap Skirt, £315, available at Net-A-Porter

Warehouse Mica Carnation Skirt, £46, available at Warehouse

Zara Pleated Midi Skirt, £49.99, available at Zara

Rejina Pyo Freya Check Gathered Buttoned Skirt, £515, available at Rejina Pyo

& Other Stories Painted Dots A-Line Skirt, £59, available at & Other Stories

Molly Goddard Ruffled Gingham Skirt, £302, available at Browns

Finery Belshaw Fold A Line Skirt, £75, available at Finery

Christopher Kane Midi Pleated Skirt, £995, available at Farfetch

ASOS WHITE Asymmetric A-Line Skirt, £39, available at ASOS

Ganni Dufort Silk Skirt, £295, available at Ganni

COS Knitted Skirt with Pleats, £69, available at COS

Preen Line Vivian Check-Print Crepe Skirt, £280, available at Selfridges

Lazy Oaf Black Zebra Print Zip Skirt, £60, available at Lazy Oaf
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