When people think of the mini skirt, often they may think ultra short. This is not entirely the case. The style was first introduced in the 1960’s in Europe. Then, it was defined as any skirt with a hemline above the knees. Today, it is known to be much shorter.

The introduction of the mini skirt is often given to Mary Quant, a fashion designer in England. Others credit this fashion statement to André Courreges, a French fashion designer. Both designers claim the invention of this fashion craze, although it is unclear who developed it first. There is no doubt that Courreges designs changed fashion forever while Quant arguably liberated women’s fashion as the way we know it today.

In the United States, the mini skirt didn’t gain nationwide popularity until 1966-1967. Since its introduction, the popularity has grown in exponential numbers. When this fashion trend was first introduced, the hemline could typically be found 4-5 inches above the knee, although it has been reported that in London, the hemline could be found 7-8 inches above the knee. Today, the mini skirt is shorter than ever.

As part of a growing trend, many women today are wearing these skirts with leggings or hot pants underneath to compensate for the length. Often, this fashion trend is made with such a short hem, it is necessary to wear another piece of clothing underneath. Many women feel comfortable and look quite stylish wearing the mini skirt in such a fashion.

Some claim that the short length coupled with high heel shoes actually makes a woman look taller and thinner. The claim being the shorter length of the mini skirt can make the upper thigh appear elongated, and high heel shoes make the lower part of the leg look longer as well. Wear this with caution however, as some criticize women wearing these shorter skirts that ‘don’t have the legs for them’.

Available in a wide array of styles, colors, and fabrics, this item is available in thousands of different styles. From the plain strait style to the pleated look, you can undoubtedly find a mini skirt to suit your particular style. In recent years, metallic fabrics have become hugely popular and are not hard to find. Lame’, the most commonly known of these fabrics provides a unique, appealing and eye catching look to an item that is decades old.

For the ultra daring, mini skirts are now available in lengths as short as 3 inches, and at that length, they may not even fully cover a woman’s rear. This ultra version also looks amazing with a pair of knee high boots, but for a less expensive alternative, wear one with a pair of leggings. In today’s fashion, I say layer up, this look is in style and can be very sexy. There is no doubt that the mini skirt is here to stay. While what is being worn with them may have changed throughout the years, the basic concept has not.

Short skirts, are what you might call a 'clubbing uniform.' This may seem strange in the cold season, but it's quite the opposite. Even when winter is at its peak everyone is wearing short skirts. However, a miniskirt is more than a fashion statement-it's a declaration of youth and independence.

In fact, the history of the miniscule garment is intriguing. Though we tend to associate sixties fashion with short skirts, the mini was not worn by many until 1966. The precursor of the mini dress was the straight shift, which developed from the 1957 sack dress, and was well below the knee. In 1966, couturier Mary Quant introduced the first short shift dress. Inspired by the Mini Cooper automobile, Quant was at the pinnacle of her fame when she created the micro-mini.

Owing to her position in the UK haute couture circuit, the miniskirt grew into a key international trend. However, there were conflicting opinions as to who was the original creator of the mini. Marit Allen, a Vogue 'Young Ideas' editor at the time, stated “John Bates, in particular, has always been completely unappreciated … he bared the midriff, used transparent vinyl and, was responsible for raising the hemline.” The 'mini debate' notwithstanding, French designer André Courreges, who integrated it into his Mod look in 1965 further popularized short skirts. His minis were less clinging, and worn with white boots that became a trademark of sorts.

The miniskirt made frequent appearances over the decades; in the eighties it was part of the punk and power-suit movement. Even the most conservative designers raised hemlines drastically. Minis were not seasonal attire any longer; in winter they were worn over leotards. In fact, women wore minis with ruffled tops, sweaters, and even T-shirts- and looked good.

Over the next few years, skirts continued to dominate trousers, but softer and longer than the eighties version--gathered pleated (Chanel), hugging pencils (Alexander McQueen), or skirt suits--you name it; they were wearing it. And--this season it's back in full force. The presence of short skirts in the collections of key couturiers appears to have sparked off yet another miniskirt resurgence. Chanel, Lacroix, Vuitton and others have all displayed their version of ultra-short skirts. In brief, it's time to ride the short wave and get back in style once again.