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The Denim Maxi Skirt Is Spring's Style Saviour
The easiest alternative to your beloved jeans, the denim skirt is perfect for warmer climes. We've scoured the internet to find the very best of the best
Now we know that once you've found the jeans you'll happily be buried in, it's quite hard to take them off – but this spring, the denim maxi skirt is here to tempt you out of the trousers.
Puddle-grazing skirts - the kind that once might have once had unfortunate 'you-don't-understand-me-mum' teenager associations - have become the wardrobe staple of influencers and editors alike this year, and the trend shows no sign of slowing down. Take ELLE UK's own Head of Social Amy Brewster who's been trotting her own Free People maxi denim skirt out on the near daily at ELLE HQ since picking it up in February. Pairing it with a white t-shirt and mules in the office and trainers on the weekend she says: 'Swapping in a denim maxi has made my daily uniform of straight-leg jeans and a tank top look more put together with minimal effort.'
Ever since the denim skirt first materialised in the 1970s at the hands of people cutting up their old denim jeans, the wardrobe staple has evolved in numerous shapes, cuts and sizes. On the SS24 runways, there was a whole spectrum of styling inspiration, from Diesel's rebellious layers to Awake Mode's crafty patchwork. So whatever your new-season wardrobe is looking like, there's bound to be a denim maxi that slots seamlessly in. Here, see the skirts we'll be adding to our regular rotation this season.
The Denim Maxi Skirts Fashion Editors Are Wearing Now
Look to Arket for elevated staples like this slit-front, slightly A-line maxi skirt. It comes in black too – but if you opt for the classic blue, you can have a matching oversized shirt.
Mango's pale-blue offering comes in a floor-sweeping cut with a knee-high split so you can show off your shoes.
Bring your denim into spring with a light wash. Frame's frayed midi skirt would look adorable with ballet pumps and an off-the-shoulder blouse.
Dark-wash denim has an elevated feel to it, and this Tibi skirt, in a stylish A-line, would work as well in the office or at a bar.
Reformation's denim skirt is more form-fitting than most, so feels appropriate for spring nights and dinner dates, while the asymmetric fastening is a fun new-season twist.
The perfect column silhouette on the high street: H&M has mastered the look with this long and lean maxi skirt.
A feminine riff on the cargo jeans trend, Whistles' utility skirt would work perfectly with a white shirt and kitten heeled mules.
Fit and flare silhouettes bring a sense of drama to even the simplest denim ensemble, as Cos' trumpet-hem skirt demonstrates.
The slit at the back of & Other Stories' clever design makes it wearable while maintaining that slick maxi look.
For something that sways satisfyingly when you walk, look to H&M's dramatic denim skirt, which flares generously to the ankles. Best worn with a block heel (cue the cowboy boot).
Victoria Beckham's patched denim skirt is perfect for layering with chic neutral pieces.
Asymmetric lines bring fresh interest to Sea NY's arts-and-crafts cut.
Ganni's denim skirt comes in a super wearable midi length, with a fraying raw edge to offset the girlish feel.
A more affordable option, Monsoon's 98% cotton skirt has just enough stretch (2% elastane) to be super comfortable.
Maison Margiela's deconstructed design nous shines through in this denim maxi skirt, which is cut to look like a pair of unstitched jeans.
Time and time again Arket delivers affordable staples that feel perfectly on-point.
Tory Burch is truly having a moment. And, looking at this deconstructed, knee-high denim skirt, it's clear to see why. Balance the length with calf-skimming boots.
Citizens of Humanity is on of the denim brands we always turn to, so it makes sense that they've seamlessly mastered the denim skirt trend. This one is neatly stitched from panels of faded denim for a vintage feel.
Made from organic cotton, this dark-wash denim skirt would work well with heels and a black bodysuit for a smarter take on the trend.
With no slit at the back, this is the truest vintage-style denim maxi skirt about.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
Kara is the Ecommerce Editor, Women’s Lifestyle at Hearst UK. Leading Cosmopolitan’s digital shopping strategy, she shares style advice for life’s big moments, reports on the latest fashion collaborations, and creates beauty reviews across skincare, makeup, and haircare.
Kara’s most popular guides include ‘Affordable Jewellery Brands to Shop’, ‘Ski Wear to Shop, According to an Editor’, and ‘The Best High Street Wedding Dress Brands’, while covering deals events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. When she’s not behind a laptop screen, she’s hosting shopping videos and livestreams for Cosmo’s TikTok Shop. Kara also creates shopping content for Red and Prima, and was previously contributing Fashion and Beauty Ecommerce Editor at ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar.
Since starting her career as a journalist in 2018, she has held the role of Fashion Content Editor at NET-A-PORTER’s Porter Magazine, Associate Editor at PopSugar, and written for Refinery29 and LOVE Magazine, where she covered fashion and beauty news, trends, and features. An experienced interviewer, Kara has spoken to Zendaya, Alicia Keys, Simone Biles, and Tyla about life, work, and style. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Kara lived in Toronto, Canada before moving to London.
Follow Kara on Instagram @kara.kia
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