The 11 Rules for Wearing a Mini Skirt in 2024

What does this Goldilocks silhouette actually look like? Think slim-cut A-line. Skirts that are too flouncy (i.e. ruffled or pleated minis) can all too easily look very juvenile, and skin-tight pencil skirts or hip-hugging spandex is a bit too sexy for day-to-day. Look for a mini in a somewhat structured fabric that moves away from the hips for that perfect balance between loose and fitted.

Your hem needn’t be so high as to run the risk of flashing your undies every time you sit down in order to get the leg-lengthening benefits of a mini. This is especially true for tall women. Look for skirts that hit about three inches above the knee if you feel self-conscious about showing too much leg. They’ll look just as trendy without exposing too much skin.

Turns out Cake really knew what they were talking about when they wrote the song ‘Short Skirt/Long Jacket.’ The combination of a trench coat or duster and a mini gives the illusion of additional coverage without actually covering up your legs (after all, you chose a mini because you wanted to show off your stems, right?), making the whole thing feel much more grown up. And no, you don’t need to pick a matching set to make this tip work, contrasting colors or fabrics will look just as cool.

Once it gets too warm for outwear, you can balance out a short skirt with a top that offers a bit more coverage. Think long sleeves or a high neckline, like a crew or mock neck. Even if you opt for a tank top, choosing one with thicker straps or a similar high neckline will look more polished for a daytime ‘fit than a delicate spaghetti-strap cami (save those for when you want to turn up the sexiness).

This is an especially good trick for petite gals: Layering a navy knit over a navy skirt helps to lengthen your torso and ensure your proportions look right despite a high hem. You can also add in another color, like a lilac blazer, if you want to shake things up, but to be honest, we’ve never met a fully monochrome outfit we didn’t love.

If you love a good print, pattern or texture, then by all means, go for it. But if you’re still wary of how to pull off a shorter hem, keeping things super sleek and simple is a great place to start. A plain white T-shirt tucked into a monochrome, tailored skirt with little to no frills looks chic and polished, whether you finish the look with retro sneakers or a pair of Mary-Jane flats.

High heels can look super sexy with a mini dress or skirt, but for a casual day look they’re just too much. Flat boots or a low heel—we’re talking two inches max—are not only easier to walk in, they will also help keep your proportions in check.

Sporting a mini skirt and coordinating cropped jacket has an undeniably posh vibe that feels much more grown-up than a mini on its own. Opting for a tailored set in a neutral hue is a tried-and-true classic, as are more colorful Elle Woods-inspired duos. But you can also opt for classic denim if you like, so long as the pieces lean toward polished (i.e. darker washes with no distressing). As for shoes, try flat knee-high leather boots or flat loafers to keep those professional vibes going.

Having a brightly-colored crew sock or ankle-height fishnet peep out from a pair of loafers, flats or comfortable sneakers can be a cute way to add some depth to your look. But when worn with a mini skirt, higher socks tend to look very much like a school uniform. Keep your socks to ankle height at a maximum, or at least scrunch them down, unless you’re headed to a Gilmore Girls costume party.

Tennis skirts continue to be a major trend for 2024, especially with Zendaya’s hotly anticipated new movie, Challengers. Luckily, they’re incredibly easy to style—just slip into some white sneakers and layer on a sporty polo or neat crewneck sweatshirt—and look cute on everyone. (P.S. Try a skort with no pleats for a more polished effect.)

It is possible to rock a denim mini like an adult, but it really only works if you opt for a dark wash with neat and polished detailing (like the matching set pictured earlier in this list). Frayed hems, bleaching and distressing at the pockets are just too linked to high school (or at least the early 2000s) in my mind to look chic in 2024.