History of the Trend: Midi Skirts

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In case you couldn’t tell, we at CF are getting incredibly excited for fall fashion – with so many adorable trends and striking colors to choose from, it’s hard not to be! Inspired by the season, this installment of History of the Trend is highlighting the comeback of one surprisingly versatile look that stirs strong opinions from both its admirers and detractors: the midi skirt.

Midi skirts are characterized by their length, which can reach anywhere from just below the knee to mid-calf. If you’re interested in the controversy, rebellion, and yes, even outrage surrounding the colorful history of this garment, you’ve come to the right place!

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Table of Contents

History of Midi skirts

A chic midi skirt from Etsy

The midi skirt was a popular length in the 1940s, a fashion decade known for its elegance and grace.This collection of vintage pattern images traces the fashion trends of the time, including the midi. My favorite shots are the patterned skirt on the left of this image and the smart skirt suits in this one.
By the ’60s, the midi was out, replaced by the more revealing and progressive mini skirt. Feeling suppressed by fashions past, women loved showing off their legs in this short style.
After this breath of freedom, however, came the fated year of 1970, and with it, John Burr Fairchild’s decree that 1970 would be the year of the midi. “The head of Fairchild Publications and the boss of Women’s Wear Daily…he did not guess that hems would dive this year; he decided.”
In short, the public was not thrilled. In fact, a 1970 poll by New York’s Daily News reported 83% of readers wearing skirts above the knee in sheer defiance of this supposedly fashionable trend.
Others took the midi trend in stride, even putting their reputations on the line. In June of 1970, the high-end department store Bonwit Teller noted that 95% of its fall fashion would be midi-length. To really sell it, the store’s president stated that all salesgirls would be required to wear only one style of skirt while on duty – the midi!
The TIME coverage continued. While researching this post, I found no fewer than 12 articles in their archives that had a mention of the midi skirt, and that was only searching within the window of 1968-1970!
Much of the resistance toward the midi trend was not just due to the length, which was a point of contention, but rather the incredibly hard sell. Mildred Sullivan, director of the New York Couture Business Council at the time, said it best: “I don’t hesitate to point the finger directly at Women’s Wear for the outrageous situation. They have consumers believing [this] is the only style they should wear.”
The midi tried its best, but its reincarnation in the 1970s was a flop. Thankfully, designers have injected new life into this trend for 2011, highlighting its ladylike attributes and flexible wearability with a range of fabrics and creative styling to suit just about anyone.