How to style mini skirts in winter, according to 6 Australian and New Zealand creatives
IMAGE VIA @patrycjahuczek/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY CRYSTAL CHOO
Lower temperatures, higher hemlines.
As much as I’d love to abide by the ‘hot girls don’t get cold’ mantra, I cannot. I am prone to frostbite. Still, I can’t help but feel half my wardrobe has been tucked away until the ice melts. Although I love a good pair of pants, I’ve always been a skirt girlie at heart and it hurts my soul to see my favourite pieces fall into disuse over the frostier months.
The fact that European-girl summer is also in full swing has only exacerbated my itch to frolic around in short dresses and even shorter skirts. But, if you’re waiting out the winter like me, there’s no need to send your short skirts into hibernation just yet.
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From thermal tights to knee-high boots, there’s a myriad of ways to cold-proof your favourite minis. Below, I’ve enlisted six Australian and New Zealand fashion creatives to share their personal tips on styling mini skirts for frigid temperatures.
Kara Otter, she/her, founder of So Familia and designer of Karameleon
Mini skirts are my favourite item of clothing. I have an impressive collection! In winter, I usually wear them with stockings and boots. But this year, I’m really feeling them over pants – it’s perfect because most of them are more the length of a belt anyway.
Emma Cutri, she/her, Co-Founder of Sister Studios
I love pairing my mini skirts or dresses with boots or tights for a more casual day look. These are my fave Clergerie suede boots I got years ago, the brown in them is nice to break up my nearly always black wardrobe!
Grace Ko, she/her, designer and founder of Baobei
When it’s cold, absolutely nothing changes. The mini skirt still comes out, rain or shine. At this point my thighs are windproof, however, styling the mini with knee-high boots and a warm jumper gives me my snow bunny look – cold and cute. Wearing accessories like my headphones and a pair of sunglasses also makes me feel warmer, because I’m delusional.
Cat Forsyth, she/her, stylist and writer
Mini skirts and I have a rather volatile relationship. I wrote a 2000-word essay on the history of the mini skirt back in uni, which brought me great joy (I’m a nerd). But in practice, I generally find mini skirts to be too irritating to enjoy wearing. I get annoyed with both chafing and bike shorts, so I have found a new solution: skirts over pants!
It’s not often that I lean into a trend, but layering mini skirts over slinky pants or jeans has become my new go-to. My most recent look for a night out involves a thrifted silk Scanlan skirt worn over my trusty yoga pants: the ultimate comfort slay.
Ruby Staley, she/they, writer
My personal skirt preference at any time of the year is usually maxi length, however, I do love a mini from time to time. This one is a vintage cropped kilt that I love wearing with knee-high boots, such as this pair of black platform stompers.
Here, I styled it with a basic white long-sleeve Comme des Garçons top with the signature heart detailing, tying back in with the red of the skirt. When leaving the warmth of my house, I popped on my oversized vintage bomber jacket on top to make the outfit winter appropriate. Mini skirt supremacy year-round!
Patrycja Huczek, she/her, model
I’m obsessed with skirts over pants at the moment, especially for the winter. It gives a really chic extra element to my outfits… and not to mention warmth! I love being able to feel cute in a skirt but also have it be weather-appropriate.
I love styling slightly more baggy, fitted jeans or pants with a pleated mini skirt. I’ve also put my flared yoga pants to work in many of my outfits with either a knee-length pleated or tartan skirt! These looks are so easy to dress up or down with some loafers/sneakers, or with some cute kitten heels for a more evening look.
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