The miniskirt is considered a staple of many women’s wardrobes nowadays, but that wasn’t always the case. It wasn’t until the 1950s when Dame Mary Quant began popularizing short skirts that were eventually dubbed “mini,” that the miniskirt found a customer among the modern woman.
The miniskirt itself is a tale as old as time though. Archaeologists have uncovered figurines dating back as far as 5400 B.C. of people dressed in kilt-like coverings. Before Mary Quant popularized the miniskirt, groundbreaking entertainer Josephine Baker shocked a crowd in Paris when she wore a miniskirt made from bananas.
The miniskirt has undergone many iterations and changes since life pre-‘60s. In 1964, André Courreges began hiking up the hemlines on his skirts for his runway shows. By the ‘70s, miniskirts got a lot bolder and more colorful. Today, celebrities proudly rock miniskirts on the red carpet and for everyday appearances.
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Annette Benson, 1920s
Image Credit: Getty Images British film actress Annette Benson plays with a ball whilst modelling a very short jersey dress.
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Woman in tennis outfit, 1952
Image Credit: Getty Images A woman modelling a white belted mini-dress, possibly a tennis dress.
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Brigitte Bardot, 1966
Image Credit: Getty Images French actress Brigitte Bardot at London Airport, Sep. 2 1966.
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Models, 1967
Image Credit: Getty Images Models wearing four variations on the mini dress on Oct. 6, 1967. Left to right: Sandra Kristensen, Patricia Madden, Kathleen Brown and Caroline Crosby.
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Sue Gerrard, 1971
Image Credit: Getty Images English model and actress Sue Gerrard on Jan. 21, 1971
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Stephanie Lawrence, 1984
Image Credit: Getty Images British actress and singer Stephanie Lawrence (1949 – 2000) at a press photocall for the new Andrew Lloyd Webber stage production “Starlight Express” in 1984.
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Diana, Princess of Wales, 1990s
Image Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Get Diana, Princess Of Wales In Tunbridge Wells, Kent circa 1990s.
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Clare Kramer, 2000
Image Credit: Getty Images Actress Clare Kramer arrives at the premiere of the movie “Bring It On” Aug. 22, 2000 in Los Angeles.
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Britney Spears, 2003
Image Credit: Getty Images Singer Britney Spears poses backstage during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Aug. 28, 2003 in New York City.
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Megan Fox, 2010
Image Credit: Getty Images Actress Megan Fox poses in press room with the Choice Hotties Award during the 2010 Teen Choice Awards on Aug. 8, 2010 in Universal City, California.
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Margot Robbie, 2023
Image Credit: Getty Images Margot Robbie at CinemaCon 2023 on April 25 in Las Vegas.