Short Hemlines, Big Statements

In 1985, Vivienne Westwood redesigned the mini skirt. She combined the historical crinoline skirt with the modern mini skirt to create the "mini crini". The crinoline skirt was a bell shaped skirt supported by hoop structures underneath which went down to the floor when worn. In Westwood's design, the skirt went above the knee and kept that historical bell shape. The crinoline skirt was restrictive of movement when worn due to the bell shaped structure keeping the shape of the actual skirt fabric worn above it.

Westwood's mini crini stood for a new era of femininity, one where clothing was both beautiful and functional. Bringing the skirt above the knee was a protest to past notions of elegant clothing needing to cover the body. This was another example of how Westwood effortlessly combined elegance and rebellion.

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Vivienne Westwood's mini crini worn.

How the traditional crinoline skirt would be worn.