8 Autumn Skirt Trends That Will Make You Want to Ditch Your Trousers

Please don't judge me for what I'm about to confess, but… I loathe trousers. Yes, I know it's a "controversial" stance considering most of the fashion set swears by the power of a great pair of jeans or wide-leg tailoring, but I stand by my convictions. Skirts are the wardrobe staple—they're universally stylish, seasonless, and downright comfortable. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way about this bottom. One could say that the rise of sentimental feelings about skirts can be directly linked to the autumn/winter 2022 runway collections. 

From Paris to Milan to New York, there was no city where we didn't see skirts play a pivotal role in designers' collections. But as someone who wears skirts 85% of the time, I can tell you that not all skirts are created equal. And with this season's collections having every type of skirt imaginable, it's more important than ever to suss out the few trends that are worth your time. So ahead, I've sifted through runway images and some of my favourite retailers to break down eight autumn skirt trends you'll want to know about. Whether you're an avid skirt fan like myself or need some convincing to ditch your trousers, there's something in here for everyone.

1. Maxi Skirts 

If last autumn and spring were all about the miniskirt, this season will be all about the maxi. Across the board, we saw collections championing floor-sweeping skirts. But it wasn't just their length that made them noteworthy—the focus on details made this skirt trend stand out. We saw everything from leather maxi skirts in Tod's A/W 22 collection to velvet versions at Christian Siriano.

And if luxe fabrications weren't the focus, it was all about fit. A minimal, fishtail-like maxi skirt was found at Ludovic de Saint Sernin, while a version with a drop waist and built-in belt was at Y/Project. No matter the minor details of each skirt, on a larger scale, it's safe to say that the maxi skirt is back and better than ever. 

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2. Knee-Length Skirts

Hear me out on this. I know knee-length skirts can elicit very different memories for many, including a time in their adolescence when they were required to wear skirts that grazed their kneecaps. But the versions we saw on the autumn/winter 2022 runways make a compelling case for this silhouette's comeback. We saw designers take this "conservative" style and make it a little risqué through tailoring. Miu Miu sent low-rise pleated skirts down the runway with exposed boxers, and Stella McCartney created a saffron satin slip skirt with a matching bralette.

In addition to tailoring, styling was also a central focus for spicing up this staple. Emilia Wickstead paired a simple crop top with an impeccably tailored knee-length skirt. In contrast, Maximilian paired a chocolate-brown suede skirt with over-the-knee boots, elbow gloves, and a bra. Whoever said covering your knees couldn't be cool never saw these collections—this trend will only get buzzier from here.

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3. Full Skirts 

While full skirts have been a staple since the 19th century, we've typically seen this style at its peak popularity during times of austerity (e.g., the Civil War, the Great Depression, and the '50s). And with the world being in such a state of fluctuation, it only makes sense that we'd see designers drawn to more voluminous silhouettes. But unlike past iterations, these skirts have a more modern take that can be attributed to tailoring and colour-blocking rather than draping. 

At Bottega Veneta, leather fringe was used as an underskirt to create a full silhouette, while pleats were used at Prada for a similar effect. In contrast, Proenza Schouler used colour-blocking and bias cutting to create the illusion of volume. My favourite was at Tory Burch, where full-Lurex shirts were paired with contrasting fitted wrap tops to create a crisp, accentuated silhouette. While this trend may be "old," each new iteration proves it can never be dull (if done right). 

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4. Denim Skirts

Despite my own misgivings, I know that autumn is denim season and that many live for this time of year. So of course, the idea of swapping out skinny jeans for a skirt may be a nonstarter. Luckily, one trend manages to bridge the gap: denim skirts. We've already seen this style gain massive traction with the fashion set, and you get it once you see autumn/winter 2022 collections. There was no shortage of ways to embrace this trend—from miniskirts at Versace to midi skirts at Ami.

But what made this style stand out came back to the details. We saw a faded denim maxi with a train at Vaquera, and Diesel employed low-slung hemlines, hardware, and deconstruction. Any former doubts one may have had about denim or skirts, in general, can be put to bed thanks to this trend. 

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5. Leather Skirts

In addition to denim being a perennial go-to for autumn, it's no secret that leather is a must-have for the season. We've seen every version of leather staples under the sun, but the one that's my very own favourite is skirts. That's no surprise considering the topic of the story, but what is surprising is how this style has managed to stay relevant season after season. In part, that's due to the continued creative re-envisioning of this staple.

We saw designers dig into the details this season and add small elements that took this already magical piece to a new celestial place. We saw a navy-blue mid-calf leather skirt panelled with chiffon at Fendi, while stones were added to the waistline of a red skirt at Chloé. Buttons adorned the bottom of a camel leather skirt at Saks Potts, and the tiniest ties held together a cutout leather skirt at Nensi Dojaka. Each detail seemed as if it was akin to a star in the universe—brightly shining and too stunning not to stare at for extensive amounts of time. 

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6. Knit Skirts

Knitwear is nothing new, yet somehow, designers manage to make it feel so each autumn. This is definitely the case with the woven-skirt trend we saw all over the A/W 2022 runways. While there was a point a few years ago when knit skirt sets were the belle du jour of social media as we all socially distanced, the versions found in this season's collections feel like they've grown since their initial virality. 

That evolution is visible through the skirts' hemlines and density. At Jil Sander, we saw grey wool skirts with mermaid-like silhouettes. Gabriela Hearst sent salmon-hued flared skirts that hit above the ankle down the runway. At the same time, Technicolor skirts with bright stitching and high slits were found at Ulla Johnson. There was also the ultra-sleek pale-yellow longline skirt at Rejina Pyo paired with a matching vest. Each version seemed to reflect how our approach to dressing has evolved over the past few years. We're all looking to be comfortable yet chic, and this skirt trend does just that. 

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7. Party Miniskirts

While longer hemlines were more popular across the board this season, miniskirts didn't entirely disappear. Instead, they were translated into a more specific category: party dressing. The idea of dressing up for a special night out again is something to be excited about, whether it's spent with a date or on the dance floor. And that excitement manifested as festive miniskirts all over the autumn/winter 2022 runways. 

Unlike the previous versions of this trend that specifically focused on the shock value of shrunken hemlines, this season was all about sparkle. We saw miniskirts adorned with uniquely shaped sequins at No.21, and vibrant saffron sparkles covered a low-slung skirt at LaQuan Smith. But it wasn't just sequins that made this skirt style shine; hardware did too. Versace used hot-pink crystal-adorned chains to embellish a miniskirt, and Coperni created a faux cutout effect using mirrors. The result is a miniskirt that can make anyone want to dance—because it's that cute. 

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8. Skirts Over Pants

Oh, you're still here? Good, because I saved the best trend for last. While I'm a die-hard stan for skirts and believe they triumph trousers, I can understand if you're still dubious about swapping this bottom this season. So don't do it. Instead, wear them both. I know the idea seems very mid-aughts, but if the autumn/winter 2022 runways taught us anything, it's that styling is the key to making a skirt trend work for you.

Don't be afraid to look to the runway as your guidepost when trying to re-create this look. You'll want to note how silhouettes played a pivotal role in pulling this styling together. At Jacquemus and Rokh, skirts with a bit more flare were paired over slim trousers with ankle-split hems. DSquared2's and Maryam Nassir Zadeh's miniskirts were styled over black pants and paired with even more layers to create visual intrigue. All these examples show that you don't have to choose between your favourite bottoms. You can wear both if you're bold enough. 

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Next Up, Winter 2022 Fashion Trends: The 16 Looks You Need to Know About

This post originally appeared on Who What Wear US.