There’s a good reason so many of us rolled up the waistbands of our school skirts (and today’s girls still do) – those knee- and midi-length hemlines do nobody any favours. But school uniforms aren’t designed by Miuccia Prada, in whose hands the garment is a much more seductive proposition.
This autumn, it’s time to reconnect with your inner prefect, as the midi skirt is very much back – with a slightly odd rebrand: the ‘awkward length’ skirt, the definition of which is a smidge shorter than a midi, but not quite a knee-length.
The good news is that there are no rules: it can be pleated, sheer or slinky; embroidered, voluminous or handkerchief-hemmed. Chances are, the ones hanging in your wardrobe right now could fit the bill, although that hasn’t stopped several of the Telegraph fashion desk adding Boden’s new midi kilts to their online shopping baskets.
Josephine midi kilt, £140, Boden
Of course, different silhouettes suit different body shapes - and heights - and getting the length right is critical. Awkward-looking is fine, anything approaching frumpy territory is not. Keep it flattering: ‘Not too long, not too short, falling just below the knee and above the ankle, showing off the narrowest part of your leg and elongating your silhouette,’ advises personal stylist Charlotte Handley-Green, whose clients include Gabby Logan.
Choose well, and it’ll become a year-round wardrobe player. ‘A midi skirt is effortlessly cool teamed with a trainer, or go preppy and pair it with a polo shirt,’ says Handley-Green. ‘For a more polished look, try a simple white shirt and a heel, in the style of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.’
For Samantha Cameron, founder of Cefinn, the midi skirt has become a staple of her collection. Beyond her signature A-line shapes, the offering now includes wrap styles and fuller circle skirts. ‘[The midi skirt] works for most body shapes, as you can play with proportions and heel heights,’ Cameron says. She’s nailed the styling too: ‘They work perfectly with our new cropped cashmere knits.’
Salomi denim skirt, £220, Cefinn
Boxy tees and cropped jackets also go well, and for an almost drop-waisted silhouette try an oversized knit over a pencil skirt in a similar hue, as seen at Michael Kors.
Unless you’re tall, a blazer or untucked shirt can be a little drowning, but give it a whirl as there are always exceptions to the rule. As Handley-Green says, ‘With a midi there is something for everyone.’
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