The Mini Turns 50: Iconic Skirt Moments

October 30, 1965

Fifty years after a small London designer, Mary Quant, debuted her head-turning, boundary-crossing, fashion-changing, societal barometer known as the mini skirt, it’s still a hot commodity. According to eBay sales data, it’s the second most-sold skirt style worldwide, falling below its more conservative cousin the A-line. In hot spots like Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Miami, though, showing a lot of leg still reigns supreme. To celebrate half a decade of the spirit of London’s swinging ’60s and the mother of the mini, see 20 shortened skirt moments worth remembering.

The mini dress, designed by Mary Quant, makes its chic debut on British fashion model Jean Shrimpton at Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, instantly changing the way women dress.

November 2, 1965

The skirt then gets its moment, again on the gorgeous Jean Shrimpton at the Melbourne races in Australia.

1966

The revolutionist Mary Quant in her own design.

September 2, 1966

French actress Brigitte Bardot shows off a shortened skirt in London.

March 22, 1967

Actress Charlotte Rampling.

August 21, 1967

The girl who wore a mini especially well — British fashion model Twiggy arriving with legs for miles in London.

June 5, 1969

Jane Fonda and her daughter arriving in Le Havre.

June 5, 1969

A ladylike take on the trend, Jackie Kennedy-Onassis wears a demure length style with husband Aristotle at JFK Airport in New York.

1972

Mary Tyler Moore in a pleated version.

1974

Bianca Jagger with Mick Jagger.

1983

Blondie, live in Philadelphia.

May 18, 1985

Madonna in Chicago, Illinois.

1991

In a supers mini moment, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell at the London Fashion Week Designer of the Year Awards held at the Museum of Natural History.

1995

Claudia Schiffer goes mad for plaid.

1995

Alicia Silverstone and Stacey Dash as Cher and Dionne in Cluelesssecured a plaid mini phenom.

June 4, 2000

Sarah Jessica Parker as the style-influencing Carrie Bradshaw onSex and the City.

September 22, 2009

Gwyneth Paltrow wears her mini with a chic tee.

May 9, 2011

Blake Lively shows off her stems at the a Chanel cruise show held at the Hotel du Cap in Cap d’Antibes, France.

March 21, 2012

Trendsetter Alexa Chung rocks her short skirts with flats, as photographed in England.

May 17, 2012

Thoroughly modern mini: Diane Kruger at the 65th Cannes Film Festival.