Maxi Skirts Have Risen Again At New York Fashion Week

Full-length dresses are everywhere, on the high street, on the red carpet and the catwalks but the biggest boost to this floor-grazing trend comes in the form of a new skirt shape.

There’s nothing quite like New York Fashion Week during a sub-zero snowstorm to separate the fantasy trends from those that will actually catch on. We’d love to say next winter we’ll all be wearing Tomo Koizumi’s ruffled dresses, but realistically only Rihanna actually will. Meanwhile, the sensible, maxi skirts that have made their way down the autumn winter 19 catwalks of 3.1 Philip Lim, Hellessey, Brandon Maxwell, Gabriela Hearst, Kate Spade and Zimmermann in the Big Apple this week might just be that magical mix of newness and functionality that catches on.

The influx of archive 90s imagery on Instagram of Gwyneth and Kate wearing the long lean shapes of early Prada set the foundation for the return of this ankle-skimming skirt. This was double downed on by Jacquemus’ SS19 collection and Marc Jacobs’ reissued grunge range that made a play to increase the cool factor of these longer lengths.

In addition, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski have already begun wearing the trend, which is the surest sign that the item that this skirt length will catch on.

Forgive me, for I always considered maxi skirts a little mumsy. But, the rise of mom jeans and dad trainers is enough to prove that any item with parental appeal actually amplifies the allure. With long dresses both prairie (like Batsheva’s) and prim (like The Vampire’s Wife) already on the agenda, this is the only natural conclusion.

See: Maxi Skirts At NYFW