National Skirt Day is celebrated every year on March 10. It’s a special day when women around the country don skirts with pride. Have a closet full of skirts that you’ve been meaning to wear for the longest time? Now is your chance. Celebrate the day in style by getting all your friends to wear skirts with you. As summer approaches, a skirt is the perfect easy, breezy go-to attire for many. Who wouldn’t want to get in on this action? This is why people have been wearing skirts for as long as clothes have been around. It’s safe to say that skirts will be around for centuries to come.
History of National Skirt Day
Some say that the origins of National Skirt Day are unclear, while others claim it was first observed in 1998. Although skirts have been around for thousands of years, we still can’t get enough of them. They’ve existed even before people learned how to stitch clothes together because of their simple nature and ease of use.
The oldest known skirt, made from straw, was found in Armenia at the Areni-1 cave complex dating back 5,900 years. Back then, skirts were worn by both men and women. Ancient Egyptian art, in the form of wall and sarcophagus paintings as well as hieroglyphics also shows both genders wearing skirts wrapped in a rectangular shape and tied around the waist. The Sumerians in Mesopotamia wore a kind of fur skirt tied by a belt.
During the Old Kingdom of Egypt, which lasted until 2130 B.C., men wore short skirts tied at the waist or held by a belt. Over time, skirts became pleated or gathered. By the Middle Kingdom, longer skirts were more fashionable while in the New Kingdom, kilts-like variations with pleated triangular sections became popular.
The material used to make skirts has been constantly evolving. While earlier they were made from animal skin, straw and linen, today they’re made from almost any material you can think of. Skirts are still worn by men and women from many cultures, such as the lungi, lehnga, kanga, and sarong from South and Southeast Asia, and the kilt worn in Scotland and Ireland.
National Skirt Day timeline
Figurines produced by the Vinča culture in present-day Serbia and neighboring Balkan countries from the start of the copper age show women in skirt-like clothes.
Skirts start becoming more popular than full-length dresses as they are more practical and allow women to participate in activities freely.
Hemlines become shorter, going just below the knee, allowing legs to be visible while walking and dancing.
Skirts have permeated our lives so deeply that they form a part of formalwear with stewardesses, nurses, and waitresses donning them.
National Skirt Day FAQs
When did skirts become feminine?
While men wore skirts for most of history, they were replaced by trousers in probably the Middle ages and eventually by shirts, pants, and ties in the 20th Century.
What is a short skirt called?
Short skirts can be classified as miniskirts, which usually sit at mid-thigh level and no longer than 10 cm below the buttocks. Even shorter is a micro mini skirt or simply a microskirt with its hemline at the upper thigh level.
Are skirts in fashion?
Yes. Skirts never went out of fashion and if the past few thousands of years are any indication, they never will.
National Skirt Day Activities
Wear a skirt
Put on your favorite skirt. It doesn’t even matter if you’re planning to go to work, college, a restaurant, buy groceries, or just lounge around at home. Every occasion is a chance to wear a skirt.
Go shopping
Go to your nearest mall and pick up a new skirt if you don’t already have one or want to add to your collection. No matter what style, length, or color it is, it’ll never go out of fashion.
Have a skirt party
Invite all your friends over with a strict dress code: skirts only. You can make it more fun by turning it into an annual tradition.
5 Facts About Skirts That Will Blow Your Mind
They’re not just for women
Skirts were initially worn by both men and women, although now they’re mostly considered women’s clothing.
The Scots know how to do it
Scotland’s traditional outfit, the Highland Dress, made of a plaid and kilt ensemble, is also the uniform of Scottish officers in the British army.
Kilts were banned in Scotland
Scotland banned ordinary people from wearing kilts in 1746 for 35 years, after which it made a comeback with a renewed sense of Scottish patriotism.
Science fiction loves skirts
Miniskirts became an integral part of science fiction comics, books, and shows which often portrayed women in short, metallic skirts to make them look more futuristic.
They’re great for wearing into battle too
The Romans used to wear skirt-like garments while going to war — they tended to make their skirts as short as possible to make it easier for them to move.
Why We Love National Skirt Day
Take your pick
Skirts come in all shapes and sizes. A-line, midi, pencil, tiered, mini, maxi, globe, godet, gypsy, and circle — you name it.
They look great
There’s no other way to say this. Skirts simply look great on everyone. It doesn’t matter what type of skirt, if paired with the right top and accessories, they can take your look to the next level.
They’re easy to wear
One of the main reasons why they were so widely worn in the first place was because of just how easy they are to make and wear. They’re also less restricting on your movement than trousers are. No doubt we’ll continue to wear them for centuries to come.
National Skirt Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2025 | March 10 | Monday |
2026 | March 10 | Tuesday |
2027 | March 10 | Wednesday |
2028 | March 10 | Friday |
2029 | March 10 | Saturday |