There is no item of clothing I have more opinions about than skirts. This isn’t something I even knew about myself until recent years, perhaps because skirts had somewhat taken a backseat to other bottoms trends, like wide-leg trousers or barrel-leg jeans. But in the past few seasons, we’ve seen a range of skirt silhouettes—like denim or white cotton maxis and pleated tennis skirts—popping up on must-have lists and trend forecasts. For fall/winter 2025 there is one specific style I’ve started to see creeping back into the trend cycle, and I for one am not here for it. Yes, I’m talking about knee-length skirts and, no, I will not be joining in the trend.
Knee-Length Skirts Are Trending Again, and I Am Absolutely Not Here for It
That’ll be a pass from me
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Published Sep 10, 2025
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The rise of the knee-length skirt fits right in with the evolution of the quiet luxury trend and ‘90s revival. Workwear is suddenly cool again, as evidenced by the newfound popularity of brands like Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. Specifically we all seem to be drawn to the sleek Calvin Klein silhouettes made popular by ‘90s icons like Rachel Green or Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. One such workwear staple is the knee-length skirt, be it a pencil silhouette or A-line. Tory Burch, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein all had a smattering of knee-grazing silhouettes on their F/W 2025 runways, as did Fendi and Gucci in their Resort 2026 collections.
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But every time I see this hem length on even the finest tailored runways, it just feels so noncommittal. It’s neither short nor long. It’s not sexy or frumpy. It’s neither here NOR there! A miniskirt? A miniskirt says something (usually something like “sex appeal”). Even a midi skirt translates to elegance . But knee-length skirts are incomplete thoughts—fabric thrown on the body without intention. There’s nothing confident or compelling in the way it awkwardly cuts of the leg.
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I’m not saying you need to go to the extremes with a micro mini or calf-length maxi. Opting for something that hits even just two or three inches either above or below your knee will yield significantly more stylish results. A quick trip to the tailor can transform a skirt that once felt dowdy into something much more flattering, that you’re more likely to actually reach for throughout fall and winter.
While I don’t doubt I’ll see plenty of knee-length silhouettes worn by fashion editors and influencers alike during the upcoming Fashion Month whirlwind—and may even think some of their outfits are actually incredibly chic—you can bet your bottom dollar I won’t be one of them. As far as trends go, I’ll be waiting this one out to see what the new year has to bring. For now, I’ll be spending my cold-weather wardrobe budget on something with more timeless appeal like a cozy cashmere sweater in one of the biggest colors of the year.
