Micro-Mini Shorts and Skirts Have Taken Over This Summer

Welcome to the dog days of summer: It’s that time of year when walking down the block is enough to cause sweat to drip down your face. Needless to say, getting dressed when it feels like an actual oven outside may have you scratching your head. Good news: In case you haven’t heard, micro-mini silhouettes are the look du jour this summer. After seasons of midi skirts and Bermuda shorts reigning, the pendulum is swinging back to itty-bitty hemlines—and while stepping out in teensy bottoms can be intimidating, there are ways to pull off the look without feeling completely exposed. Scroll ahead to learn about the history of micro-mini silhouettes, the trend in 2025, and our must-have looks on the market right now.

Micro vs. Mini

You’re probably familiar with miniskirts, skorts, and shorts, but micro silhouettes are relatively new to the spotlight and constitute their own distinct category. Micro, in general, is shorter than mini, with a hemline hitting at the upper thigh. When it comes to shorts, you might also see this silhouette described as “booty shorts” or “hot pants.” Meanwhile, mini silhouettes, which were especially popular in the ’60s and have trended on and off in the decades since, typically graze somewhere in the mid-thigh area.

If you’re just getting used to tinier silhouettes, mini styles are a great entry point before you commit fully to the trend and opt for a micro skirt or shorts. And if you see products listed as “micro-mini,” you can assume they’re very short, fitting into the micro category.

The Trend History

While women began wearing shorts in the 1920s, tiny silhouettes weren’t popular until the 1970s. In this era, cutoffs began popping up everywhere—in no small part thanks to the hit television show The Dukes of Hazzard. In the series, the titular character, Daisy Duke, played by Catherine Bach, sported short shorts—fittingly dubbed “Daisy Dukes.” During the decade, WWD coined the bottoms “hot pants.” The silhouette became so acceptable that Southwest Airlines flight attendants famously wore the bottoms alongside their go-go boots. In the ’80s, short shorts continued gaining traction, with many opting for activewear iterations in terrycloth or nylon—the latter of which were commonly referred to as “dolphin shorts,” as they were produced by the American company Dolfin. 

When it comes to skirts, late designer Mary Quant is credited with inventing the miniskirt in 1964, which she sold at her boutique, Bazaar, on King’s Road in London. Others argue that André Courrèges was behind the miniskirt, as the French fashion designer introduced short skirts in his couture collection that same year. Either way, both helped establish the silhouette as a major component to the decade’s mod and “youthquake” fashion.

The early aughts ushered in a new wave of micro-mini silhouettes. Hot pants were a fixture at music festivals, most notably Glastonbury. Yes, we’re talking about that 2005 Kate Moss look, when she wore plaid hot pants that could easily be mistaken for underwear. Just before that, Beyoncé strutted her stuff in denim short shorts and a sparkly white tank in 2003’s “Crazy In Love” music video. At the time, Hollister and Abercrombie stores across the country were packed with teens purchasing booty-baring cutoffs (much to their parents’ dismay). 

Miniskirts were equally sought-after during the early 2000s. At the 2002 VMAs, Christina Aguilera dropped jaws when she hit the red carpet in a dangerously small miniskirt teamed with a scarf top. Paris Hilton never shied away from showing off her legs in denim micro-minis, famously pairing them with humorous logo tees with slogans like “That’s Hot!” And on the hit teen series The O.C., which aired from 2003 to 2007, the female lead, Marissa Cooper, was no stranger to low-slung denim miniskirts.

Styling the Micro-Mini Look in 2025

The micro-mini silhouette started to come back a few years ago (remember Miu Miu’s viral skirt from spring 2022?), but 2025 is when we’ve seen it fully take over, with a host of brands offering their takes plus street style stars and music festival attendees showing us how to make the look wearable.

Of course, every trend that resurfaces is different the second (or third, or fourth) time around. In the early aughts, micro-mini bottoms were often paired with crop tops and baby tees, but that’s not always the case in 2025, according to Pistola’s founder and creative director, Grace Na. “It’s not just about showing skin—it’s about styling with purpose,” she tells Byrdie. “[The idea today is] embracing minis not as a trend, but as a tool to create contrast in your wardrobe.” Case in point: Na’s clientele balances denim cutoffs or micro skirts with oversized tees for a “mix of proportions that feels effortless yet styled.” 

This summer, celebrities are also offering up endless styling inspiration in the micro-mini department. Look to Sabrina Carpenter, who promoted her new hit “Manchild” in some of the tiniest denim shorts we’ve ever laid eyes on, which she paired with a white tie-front midriff-baring blouse. She’s continued wearing various iterations of the look as she begins her Man’s Best Friend album era—and it feels truly fresh, thanks to the hints of retro and floaty silhouettes she’s been turning to on repeat.

Throughout her Cowboy Carter tour, Beyoncé has leaned back into her micro-mini prowess by hitting the stage in luxe hot pants, one notable pair being this rhinestone-covered style. And where mini skirts are concerned, Rita Ora took to the streets of SoHo earlier this month dressed in a plaid blazer and skirt set, which she accessorized with black loafers and bright yellow socks. Suffice it to say, there’s no shortage of ways to wear your micro-mini bottoms this season.

The Best Micro-Mini Shorts and Skirts to Shop

Without further ado, jump aboard the micro-mini train this summer by shopping one (or a few) of our favorite styles on the market. With so many options available and an abundance of balanced styling inspo, it’s easier than ever to rock this silhouette confidently.