Long denim skirts: Fashion favourite or unsustainable microtrend?

Long denim skirts are like marmite; you either love them or hate them. When Vogue announced their long-awaited return modelled by Bella Hadid, it did not come as a surprise, as many distinctive ‘Y2K’ trends have taken over the fashion world in the last year or two.

A few years ago, I found a stylish denim maxi skirt in a charity shop and bought it because I liked the trend. The way the skirt hugged all the right places and sat on my hips made flattered my body. However, they are not always the most comfortable clothing item to wear, and the weight of the denim can feel like you are lugging an extra 5kgs around. This is why I believe this trend will last for approximately one season, rather than becoming a staple in our wardrobes.

Micro-trends, such as the Jacquemus Le Chiquito bag, headscarves, rompers and cycling shorts, have been snapped up by A-listers, helping them stay current and fill those Instagram squares with fashionable content. But what happens to short-lived trends after their time is up? They get bagged up and left at a charity’s doorstep, longing to be loved and used again. Whilst this may seem like a harmless and even noble act, you cannot reverse the damaging process of producing a product.

This is exactly what happened to long-denim skirts after their craze in the early 2000s. They still remain in charity shops to this day. The faded labels and ageing-denim are subtly charming; something that cannot be said for copies of this iconic Y2K piece. Instead, they ooze pollution, cheap fabric and always have an itchy, irritating label.

The takeaway is that micro-trends that revive nostalgic looks are cool, but only if achieved in a sustainable way. Those maxi denim skirts have been sat patiently on second-hand rails, waiting for their time to shine again. If you truly want to achieve this iconic look, don’t bother traipsing through hundreds of pages of cheaply made clothes – visit your local charity shop and pick up a skirt that lived through the trend, not replicated it.

Edited by Miette Dsouza