Back in the mid-2000s, denim skirts — especially those of the mini variety — were all the rage. 

Back in those days, everyone, from celebrities to yours truly, was wearing them with leggings, plus some sick ballet flats (bonus points if your denim skirt featured a let-out hem or rhinestone-embellished back pockets!).

For a while after that, the denim skirt trend cooled down, but lately, retailers have been bringing them back in all sorts of lengths, colors, styles, and price points. And we’re kind of happy about it.

If worn correctly, the denim skirt oozes It-girl coolness (see the example below); however, if worn incorrectly, it can look frumpy, or worse, like you’re trying too hard.

So, with that in mind, here are a few tips for wearing a denim skirt in a modern way:

• Think about the length: To avoid reliving your middle school days (and potentially having a wardrobe malfunction!), avoid micro-minis; instead, opt for a skirt that hits mid-thigh or lower.
• Consider the silhouette: If you opt for a shorter skirt (i.e. one that hits from mid-thigh to a few inches above the knee), then it’s okay to go for a looser/fuller silhouette. If your skirt hits at the knee or lower, opt for a straight or pencil silhouette, as anything looser can look dated and dowdy. Of course, there are exceptions (like this one or this one), but if you’re not ready to take a fashion risk, stick with what’s safe.
• Ditch the leggings-and-flats look: As I mentioned before, the denim skirt + leggings + flats combo was all the rage ten years ago. While it’s possible to pull off this look today, if you’re looking for a more current feel, opt for bare legs.

Now that we’ve covered some general guidelines for wearing denim skirts, keep scrolling for four looks that show how to wear denim skirts today:

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