good speech is like a mini skirt

Quote Investigator®

Tracing Quotations

Long Enough to Cover the Subject and Short Enough to Create Interest

Winston Churchill? Ronald Knox? Gerald K. Rudulph? C. H. McNider? Richard N. Elliott? Louis Sobol? Frances Langford? Anonymous?

Dear Quote Investigator: The famous statesman and orator Winston Churchill was asked about the length of an ideal address, and he supposedly said:

A speech should be like a woman’s skirt: long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest.

Yet, a similar remark about sermons is often attributed to the theologian Ronald Knox. Would you please explore this topic?

Quote Investigator: This quip is difficult to trace because it has many variants, and the phrasing is highly variable. The earliest strong match located by QI appeared in May 1920 in “The Buffalo Enquirer” of Buffalo, New York. The columnist Gerald K. Rudulph employed quotation marks to signal that the joke was already in circulation. This version used a simile comparing the length of a newspaper column and a woman’s skirt. Emphasis added to excerpts by QI : [1] 1920 May 21, The Buffalo Enquirer, The Port Side Column by Gerald K. Rudulph, Quote Page 1, Column 1, Buffalo, New York. (Newspapers_com)

. . . we will do our best and try to make this column like a woman’s skirt, “short enough to be attractive, but long enough to cover the subject.”

An instance was attributed to Churchill by 1942. He probably used it after it had been coined. Pertinent citations are presented further below. QI has been unable to find substantive evidence that Ronald Knox used the expression.

Here are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Statements about fine-tuning the length of speeches have a long history. In 1833 a newspaper in London printed a statement about the pressure to make speeches long versus short: [2] 1833 August 5, The Morning Post, (Short untitled item), Quote Page 3, Column 1, London, England. (Newspapers_com)

A Correspondent reminds us of a very just remark of a shrewd and experienced proprietor of a Newspaper— “I never can make the speeches long enough for the speakers nor short enough for the public.”

The citation above and the next few citations suggest an evolutionary path for the formulation of the gag.

In 1881 a newspaper in Atchison, Kansas printed a remark of praise that was somewhat similar to the saying under examination, but skirts were not mentioned: [3] 1881 February 3, The Atchison Daily Champion, (Short untitled item), Quote Page 2, Column 1, Atchison, Kansas. (Newspapers_com)

The letters from Washington, furnished by Mr. Ward Burlingame, are well written, being short enough to be interesting, and long enough to give all that is of importance . . .

In 1884 a newspaper in Natchez, Mississippi printed a similar contrastive statement: [4] 1884 August 27, Natchez Weekly Democrat, Fashion Fancies: Choice Tidbits for our Lady Readers, Quote Page 1, Column 8, Natchez, Mississippi. (Newspapers_com)

He recalls in this the statesmen and presidents of old, and writes a letter that all will read— short enough to be interesting, but long enough to fully cover all the important questions before the American people in the present presidential campaign.

In 1908 a newspaper in Green Bay, Wisconsin reprinted a precursor joke from the humor magazine “Puck”: [5] 1908 May 18, The Green Bay Gazette, The Ideal Sermon, Quote Page 4, Column 4, Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Newspapers_com)

The New Minister—What is your idea of the proper length of a sermon , Miss Deerlng? The Choir Singer—Why, I think it should be long enough to get people interested and short enough to keep them so. —Puck.

In March 1920 a Kansas newspaper printed a piece titled “New Parisian Knee-Length Skirt” with a New York dateline. The joke here does not mention speeches, sermons, or letters. Yet, this joke about skirts could be combined with one of the citations above to yield the currently circulating quip: [6] 1920 March 14, The Salina Daily Union, New Parisian Knee-Length Skirt, Quote Page 13, Column 2, Salina, Kansas. (Newspapers_com)

NEW YORK.—The newest thing in skirts from Paris is here and created quite a sensation on its first appearance on Broadway. It is described as being “long enough to cover the object and short enough to be interesting.”

In May 1920 the quip emerged in a Buffalo, New York newspaper as noted previously: [7] 1920 May 21, The Buffalo Enquirer, The Port Side Column by Gerald K. Rudulph, Quote Page 1, Column 1, Buffalo, New York. (Newspapers_com)

In June 1920 C. H. McNider, President of the First National Bank of Mason City, Iowa, addressed fellow bankers at a convention and employed an instance of the simile based on the lengths of a talk and a woman’s skirt: [8] 1920, Report of the Twenty-Ninth Annual Convention of the South Dakota Bankers Association, Held at Watertown, South Dakota, June 24th and 25th, 1920, (Address by Mr. C. H. McNider, President of the … Continue reading

I would make this talk as appropriate as a modern woman’s skirt—short enough to be interesting, long enough to cover the subject. (Laughter and applause.)

In July 1920 a New Jersey newspaper printed an instance of the simile based on the lengths of a manuscript and a bathing suit: [9] 1920 July 30, Asbury Park Evening Press, Beach and Boardwalk by R. E. Porter, Quote Page 2, Column 7, Asbury Park, New Jersey. (Newspapers_com)

Gerald tells us that an ideal manuscript is like an up-to-date lady’s bathing suit—short enough to be interesting and long enough to cover the subject.

In October 1920 Indiana Congressman Richard N. Elliott employed an instance based the on lengths of a speech and a woman’s skirt: [10] 1920 October 26, The Daily Republican, Republican Doctrine Spread to All Parts of Rush County, Quote Page 1, Column 1, Rushville, Indiana. (Newspapers_com)

“It is difficult to make a speech in this campaign in such a short space of time,” the congressman said. “A speech should be very much like a woman’s skirt—long enough to cover the subject but short enough to be interesting.”

In 1942 New York columnist Louis Sobol credited Winston Churchill with an instance: [11] 1942 July 10, The Press Democrat, From the Great White Way: New York Broadway Cavalcade by Louis Sobol, Quote Page 12, Column 8, Santa Rosa, California. (Newspapers_com)

Someone once asked Churchill whether he had any rules for speechmaking, inasmuch as he was admittedly one of the greatest living orators. “A speech should be like a lady’s dress,” he replied, “long enough to cover the subject—but short enough to be interesting.”

In 1943 a syndicated gossip column reported that the popular singer Frances Langford heard the quip delivered by Winston Churchill: [12] 1943 August 23, The Indianapolis News, Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood (McNaught Syndicate), Quote Page 14, Column 3, Indianapolis, Indiana. (Newspapers_com)

Speaking of dresses, Frances Langford met Winston Churchill in London and congratulated him on his oratory. “A speech,” said he, “should be like a lady’s dress—colorful enough to catch the attention, long enough to cover the subject and short enough to be interesting.”

In conclusion, QI believes that this jest evolved over time from partially matching statements. The earliest strong match in May 1920 used quotation marks to signal that the creator was anonymous. Future researchers may clarify the provenance by finding earlier strong matches. The 1942 and 1943 citations indicate that Winston Churchill employed the quip, but the late date means he was not the creator.

(Great thanks to Kevin Barkan and Steven Schwartzman whose inquiries led QI to formulate this question and perform this exploration. Barkan mentioned the ascription to Winston Churchill. Schwartzman helpfully provided numerous citations beginning in June 1920. Special thanks to researcher Barry Popik for his pioneering research . He located matching citations beginning in October 1920.)

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Winston Churchill Quote

A good speech should be like a woman's skirt: long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest.

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'A good speech is like a miniskirt. Long enough to cover up but short enough to be interesting'

Public-speaking trainer Barbara Moynihan delivers a masterclass in making presentations.

IF YOU’RE WORRIED about speaking at an event, remind yourself that this isn’t your core skill.

For example, if you’re a marketer, you’re brilliant at marketing. You don’t have to be the Steve Jobs of public speaking. You just need to be good enough to get your message across.

Addressing a room full of your peers is a great way to raise your profile, so if you’re invited to speak at a conference or event, you should go for it.

With that in mind, here are some tips to help people in business properly prepare for a speech.

Do your homework

The first thing you should do is find out if the event has a theme. This will help you tailor your content so it fits in with other topics on the day.

You should also check how the event is structured. Will there be a Q&A afterwards? How much time will you have? Will there be a panel discussion as well?

But the most important thing you need to do is find out who exactly is going to be there.

I’d ask the organisers for a rundown of the attendees list. If it’s a regular event – like a weekly or monthly gathering – contact people who have been before and ask them what it’s like.

When you have a good understanding of the audience – their interests, their problems, their pain points – you’ll know what’s expected of you when you’re delivering your speech.

You always want to give your audience a few tangible takeaways that they can actually use in their working life, so make a list of five to seven key learning points and shape your speech around that.

Feel free to mention your business if it’s relevant, but don’t just plug yourself – your content will do that for you.

Slides come second

Once you have an understanding of the audience, you should start putting together your main talking points. Base them off the five to seven key takeaways I mentioned before.

If you’re using slides, put them together after you’ve finalised your content. A lot of the time people put their slides together first, but that really is putting the cart before the horse.

If you do your slides after you have finalised the content, they are more likely to be more relevant and add to rather than detract or distract from your message.

Less is more when it comes to the visual part of your speech. The more slides you have, the fewer people will grasp what you’re saying.

I’ve seen people delivering presentations with the guts of 10 slides per minute, which is an awful lot.

You want no more than two slides per minute. I know that’s sometimes hard for business people because they need charts and other details, but you should try your best to keep it to a minimum.

Your slides shouldn’t be too text heavy either. There’s a brilliant book called Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds. He recommends that the maximum number of words per slide is seven.

Remember, a good presentation should be like a miniskirt. Long enough to cover the essentials, but short enough to keep it interesting.

Practice out loud

With your content and slides in place, it’s time to start practicing your speech – out loud. People think preparing a speech is looking at their slides and rehearsing it in their head. It isn’t.

I’d never suggest writing a full speech and trying to memorise it. That’s way too much pressure, because if you lose a sentence, you’re gone.

You just need to know your opening and closing, almost verbatim. The first 20 seconds and maybe the last 20 seconds. That’s it. For the rest, you’ll have your main talking points to refer back to.

When you’ve got the speech right, record yourself and listen back to it in the weeks leading up to the event.

I gave a TEDx talk last October. It was only six minutes long, but I made sure I recorded it and listened back as often as I could - when I was driving the car, in between meetings, or even when out walking.

On the day of the event, you’ll probably leave out bits, but you won’t miss your main talking points if you’ve practiced them.

Leaving out a bit of detail is not that important. Nobody knows your script, only you. If it’s that critical, it will likely come up in the Q&A.

Don’t sweat about stumbling. When I gave my TEDx talk, on my first line – my first line - I fluffed it. But it kind of relaxed me.

In an ideal world, you’ll present without notes because we’ve got to just trust ourselves that we’re going to get the main bits across.

Having said that, if you’re new to speaking and you’re not as confident as you’d like to be, it’s perfectly fine to have cursory notes at the podium to help you along. Whatever it takes to help make a success of your speech.

What to do with your hands

If you don’t know what to do with your hands when you’re speaking, just use them as if you’re talking normally. It’s as simple as that.

When you’re comfortable with your content, you’ll be less aware of what you’re doing with your hands and they’ll just flow as normal.

I sometimes find people in my public speaking workshops clutching their hands in the’ fig leaf’ position.

That can often be because they were told before that they use their hands too much, but if you use your hands a lot naturally – why then would you stop using them in a presentation?

The last thing you want to do is like go up to the podium and turn into the ‘speaking’ version of yourself.

Make eye contact

Never, ever, stare at the back of the room. A wall is an object, which isn’t going to give you any reflection back. We feed off each other, so when you’re speaking make eye contact with people in the audience.

The beauty of looking at people is that you’ll go into ‘conversation mode’ and feel like you’re just talking to one person. Your tone and engagement level will change. It’s much more personal.

If you find eye contact quite scary, look at people’s eyebrows in a smaller room. In a bigger room, you’ll get away with looking at their forehead. Either way, you’re looking at a person not the wall, which is just horrendous.

You should always think of your speech as  a conversation, not a presentation. It’s just you standing up there.

You’re not Martin Luther King. You’re not a politician. You’re not ‘delivering’ a speech. You’re just sharing information.

Barbara Moynihan is founder of On Your Feet , a company that provides public speaking training. This article was written in conversation with Conor McMahon as part of a series of masterclasses with some of Ireland’s most influential business people.

If you want to share your opinion, advice or story, email [email protected].

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• Humour , Quotes for Public Speakers

Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 159) – Unknown

Mannerofspeaking.

• February 28, 2013

“A good speech is like a beautiful dress: long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to keep it interesting.”

Unknown; often attributed to winston churchill, photo courtesy of  tamara bellis  on  unsplash, like this article.

Nice quote … we need to find out where this one originated. Context suggests something in the 20th century.

Thanks, John. The quote exists in different forms but I was unable to find a single source. But I don’t think that I’ll look too hard because it would mean that I would have to substitute the photo of Halle for the speaker. 😉 John

Winston Churchill is the source.

Thanks very much. In the quote below, Rich Austin said the same thing. Please see my response to him. Regards, John

Actually, this is quote from Winston Church. “A speech should be like a women’s skirt. Long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to maintain interest.”

Thanks, Rich. I have seen the quote attributed to Churchill, and it is certainly something that he could have said, knowing his clever wit. But when looking, I found so many unattributed variations. For example, this one: “A paragraph should be like a lady’s skirt: long enough to cover the essentials but short enough to keep it interesting.” I’ve also seen it attributed to Mark Twain or Ronald Knox, the latter of whom supposedly said, “A good sermon should be like a woman’s skirt: short enough to arouse interest but long enough to cover the essentials.” Perhaps the compromise would be to say “Frequently attributed to Winston Churchill”. But I have enough pictures of Churchill on the blog already, so I am not changing this one! 😉 Cheers! John

Dear John (and other readers), First of all, I love your blog and visit it almost everyday looking for new updates. 🙂 I’m a Dutch speechwriter and one could always learn more about the art of public speaking. Even more considering the fact public speaking holds higher regard in America than in the Netherlands. I saw your interesting discussion about the origins of the quote. I agree with John that, knowing Churchill’s wit, he is a likely candidate. However, as a (continental) European, I might have another source for this quote: the French king-of-protocol Jacques Gandouin (1920-2003). In 1972, he wrote the “Guide du protocole et des usage” (Guide to protocol and custom) and the “Guide des bonnes manières et du protocole en Europe” (Guide to good manners and protocol in Europe) in 1989. In those books, it reads : “Un discours doit être comme une minijupe, suffisamment long pour couvrir le sujet, mais suffisamment court pour retenir l’attention.” Thank you for reading. Christian

Dear Christian, Thanks very much for the kind words about the blog. And thanks also for the great addition to the discussion of the source of this quote. For those readers who do not speak French, the quote at the end of Christians’s comment can be translated as: “A speech should be like a miniskirt, long enough to cover the subject but short enough to hold [the audience’s] attention.” I had not heard of Gandouin before but will be sure to look him up. And, this helpful information is one more reason not to substitute Halle Berry’s photo with one of Churchill! 😉 Thanks again for the comment. John

Meaningful words, spectacular picture. Well done!

Thank you, David. Agreed on all counts. John

Short enough to arouse interest but long enough to cover the subject

It has been said a variety of ways. I still prefer the one attributed to Churchill, mainly because I can imagine him saying it that way.

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Karsta Goetze

TA Leader, Gore and Associates

I first got in touch with John while preparing to speak at TED Global about my work on ProtonMail. John helped me to sharpen the presentation and get on point faster, making the talk more focused and impactful. My speech was very well received, has since reached almost 1.8 million people and was successful in explaining a complex subject (email encryption) to a general audience.

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John gave the opening keynote on the second day of our unit’s recent offsite in Geneva, addressing an audience of 100+ attendees with a wealth of tips and techniques to deliver powerful, memorable presentations. I applied some of these techniques the very next week in an internal presentation, and I’ve been asked to give that presentation again to senior management, which has NEVER happened before. John is one of the greatest speakers I know and I can recommend his services without reservation.

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After a morning of team building activities using improvisation as the conduit, John came on stage to close the staff event which was organised in Chamonix, France. His energy and presence were immediately felt by all the members of staff. The work put into the preparation of his speech was evident and by sharing some his own stories, he was able to conduct a closing inspirational speech which was relevant, powerful and impactful for all at IRU. The whole team left feeling engaged and motivated to tackle the 2019 objectives ahead. Thank you, John.

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I was expecting a few speaking tips and tricks and a few fun exercises, but you went above and beyond – and sideways. You taught me to stand tall. You taught me to anchor myself. You taught me to breathe. You taught me to open up. You taught me to look people in the eye. You taught me to tell the truth. You taught me to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. I got more than I bargained for in the best possible way.

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John is a genuine communication innovator. His seminars on gamification of public speaking learning and his interactive Rhetoric game at our conference set the tone for change and improvement in our organisation. The quality of his input, the impact he made with his audience and his effortlessly engaging style made it easy to get on board with his core messages and won over some delegates who were extremely skeptical as to the efficacy of games for learning. I simply cannot recommend him highly enough.

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John joined our Global Sales Meeting in Segovia, Spain and we all participated in his "Improv(e) your Work!" session. I say “all” because it really was all interactive, participatory, learning and enjoyable. The session surprised everybody and was a fresh-air activity that brought a lot of self-reflection and insights to improve trust and confidence in each other inside our team. It´s all about communication and a good manner of speaking!"

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Thank you very much for the excellent presentation skills session. The feedback I received was very positive. Everyone enjoyed the good mix of listening to your speech, co-developing a concrete take-away and the personal learning experience. We all feel more devoted to the task ahead, more able to succeed and an elevated team spirit. Delivering this in a short time, both in session and in preparation, is outstanding!

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Thanks to John’s excellent workshop, I have learned many important tips and techniques to become an effective public speaker. John is a fantastic speaker and teacher, with extensive knowledge of the field. His workshop was a great experience and has proven extremely useful for me in my professional and personal life.

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Senior Sales Manager, Sunrise Communications

John’s presentation skills training was a terrific investment of my time. I increased my skills in this important area and feel more comfortable when speaking to an audience. John provided the right mix between theory and practice.

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Be BOLD. Those two words got stuck in my head and in the heads of all those ADP leaders and associates that had the privilege to see John on stage. He was our keynote speaker at our annual convention in Barcelona, and his message still remains! John puts his heart in every word. Few speakers are so credible, humble and yet super strong with large audiences!

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Senior Director and Talent Partner, ADP International

A good speech should be like a woman`s skirt; long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest.

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3 Lessons from Winston Churchill on How to Present - 60 Second Visual Summary

Average: 5 ( 1 vote)

“A good speech should be like a woman's skirt; long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest.” -Winston S. Churchill

Winston Churchill, the prime minister of Great Britain during World War II, inspired courage in the whole nation during their darkest hours, going down in history for his enthralling, persuasive speeches.

Many of his words still resonate today. Historians and biographers continue to study his approach to persuasion and speaking.

What are some of the important lessons public speakers can learn from Winston Churchill?

It took Churchill years to perfect his speaking skills. He practiced until he perfected. There is no way to instantly hack this process, but speakers can learn some valuable lessons from watching and studying Churchill’s techniques.

Ethos3, a communications agency, posted an article,  “ Presentation Lessons from Winston Churchill ”, exploring some of his methods. We’ve summarized the article visually, giving you three techniques to consider using in your next talk.

“ Presentation Lessons from Winston Churchill ” originally appeared on Ethos3 in March, 2012.

Barack Obama: A MasterClass in Speaking - 60 Second Visual Summary

Want more speaking engagements? Sign up as a speaker to SpeakerHub here . Have any feedback about this summary? We’d love to hear it, contact us here.

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Pakistan top judge sorry over ‘sexist’ comment on woman’s skirt

The chief justice, during a speech in Karachi, quoted former British prime minister Winston Churchill as saying that “a good speech should be like a woman’s skirt; long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest”.

Pakistan’s top judge Saqib Nisar on Wednesday apologised for his ‘sexist’ recent remark in which he had compared the length of a good speech to a woman’s skirt.

Nisar’s remark drew criticism on social media, as well as from the Women Lawyers’ Association (WLA) and the Women Action Forum (WAF).

During the hearing of a case on taxation, he said: “I am apologetic if I hurt anyone’s sentiments. That was not my intention. My ‘skirt’ remark was only referencing a quote by British politician Winston Churchill.”

Explaining that hurting anyone was not his intention, Nisar said “women comprise half our population”, adding that social media users were “trying to create an issue” out of his statement when there was none.

The WLA had called the remark by the chief justice “a setback for women lawyers who practice in a male-dominated profession”, adding that such statements cause “the alienation and marginalisation of women in the legal field”.

“Given the global conversation today about the impact of discrimination on women’s lives, ranging from casual sexism in the workplace to sexual assault, the statement is particularly tone-deaf, tasteless, and unbecoming of the chief justice of any country,” the WLA statement said.

WAF in its statement had criticised him, noting that the quote “reveals deep-rooted sexism and double standards women are held to which discourage women from joining the legal profession.”

“Statements that dehumanise and objectify women are not only derogatory and demeaning towards women but also contribute to the victim-blaming culture which is the biggest impediment in fighting crimes committed against women,” the WAF statement said.

The WLA had also asked the chief justice to choose his words more carefully, while the WAF called on the Chief Justice of Pakistan to issue a public apology.

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18 Best Denim Skirts to Pair With Ballet Flats, Mesh Sandals, and Sneakers

By Shauna Beni-Haynes

Denim skirts are one of the best versatile clothing pieces to have in your wardrobe. They're comfy to wear, easy to style, and come in various lengths and designs. They've also been in fashion since the 70s (proving they're a staple piece here to stay) and have started popping up all over our FYP pages again, so what better time than now to try out some new and improved styles?!

We can also thank Y2K fashion (and all our favorite celebs and influencers) for bringing back the popular look (these 2000s outfit ideas would go perfectly with a denim skirt ). We also spotted many maxi denim skirts down the 2024 NYFW spring/summer ready-to-wear runways featuring front splits, baggy silhouettes, flared skirts, and deconstructed hems. And if you prefer a shorter look, you can go with a cute button-up knee-length midi or a cargo-inspired mini skirt (we love this pleated skirt from Urban Outfitters , which gives off major tenniscore vibes .

Our favorite denim skirts:

• Best mini: Mancreda Denim Cargo Skirt , $34
• Best midi: American Eagle Stretch Super High-Waisted Denim Midi Skirt , $60
• Best maxi: Hollister Dark Wash Denim Maxi Skirt , $55
• Best on Amazon : Fisoew Long Denim Maxi Skirt , $50
• Best on Zara : Pearl Denim Mini Skirt , $46

How to style denim skirts:

Need help styling denim skirts? No worries, we got you! Go for a chill look by pairing a long maxi denim skirt with a sleeveless top and low-top Adidas sneakers (like the Sambas or Gazelle's ), or pair a mini skirt with a white tank top and a bright swimsuit set underneath for an easy poolside 'fit. You can also get a cute festival look by pairing a cropped graphic baby tee with sneakers or combat boots. Got a fancy occasion to attend? You can pair a statement blouse with a midi-length denim skirt, lace-up heels, and a matching Coach purse .

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Best mini: Denim Cargo Skirt

Whether it's a dress, jumpsuit, or denim skirt, we love clothing that comes with multiple pockets, and this skirt has two functional cargo-inspired exterior pockets that are great for storing cash, keys, lip gloss, and more.

Sizes Available: XS - L

Best on Amazon : Long Denim Maxi Skirt

This high-waisted maxi skirt will help create a flattering silhouette thanks to the asymmetrical split detail and cinched waist. Pair it with some high-heeled boots and a wide belt for man edgy touch.

Sizes Available: S - XL

Long Denim Skirt

We're obsessed with the frayed hem and light blue wash on this maxi denim skirt. We suggest pairing it with a basic crop top and a clutch for a cute and casual #ootd.

Silence + Noise

Elyssa Belted Denim Micro Mini Skirt

Urban Outfitters

This denim mini skirt has a low-rise waist, is slim-fit, and features a cute belted detail. The fabric also has a slight stretch for comfort.

Sizes Available: XS - XL

By Kara Nesvig

By Ashleigh Carter

By P. Claire Dodson

Urban Renewal

Remade Lace Witchy Hem Mini Skirt

This denim skirt comes with an adorable lace-trimmed hem, which gives it a cottagecore vibe. We can see it paired with an all-over lace top and brown booties, too.

Sizes Available: S - L

Lala Button Front Denim Miniskirt

How adorable is this retro denim mini skirt?! The exposed front buttons and patch pockets give a fashion nod to the 70s.

Recrafted Icon Skirt

Levi's never lets us down when it comes to denim. They elevated the traditional mini skirt look by adding distressed detailing around the pockets, the front panel of the skirt, and a frayed hem.

Sizes Available: 24 - 32

High Rise Denim Skirt

Create your best cowgirl ‘fit with this mini skirt. It’s crafted from cotton, has a high-waisted cut, and distressed detailing all over.

American Eagle

Best midi : Stretch Super High-Waisted Denim Midi Skirt

Perfect for class or the office, this high-waisted denim midi skirt is crafted from structured denim that offers a slight stretch for comfort. It's also made with recycled cotton and will hold its original shape no matter how many washes you put it through.

Sizes Available: 00 - 14

Best maxi : Dark Wash Denim Maxi Skirt

Your go-to brand for basic jeans has dropped a cool denim skirt, too. We love the dark wash and ultra high-rise silhouette. It also features a split hem at the front, that will allow extra movement.

Sizes Available: 000 - 20

Abercrombie & Fitch

Two-Tone Denim Maxi Skirt

Abercrombie & Fitch

Wear this dress two-tone denim skirt with a button-down blouse or T-shirt, then pair it with your favorite New Balance sneakers .

Sizes Available: 25 - 30

Distressed Denim Mini Skirt

This little distressed skirt can be dressed up or down. Wear some casual ballet flats or fancy platform heels as you see fit.

Sizes Available: 14 - 32

ASOS Design

Curve Denim Maxi Skirt

ASOS's curve collection carries a bunch of trendy and cute styles in inclusive sizes, and this denim skirt definitely stands out from the latest drop. It has a high-rise silhouette and a front slit.

Sizes Available: 16 - 24

Z1975 Slit Denim Midi Skirt

With a relaxed maxi denim skirt like this, you only need simple sandals and a sleek body suit to bring your look together.

Best on Zara : Pearl Denim Mini Skirt

Talk about fancy: this denim mini dress from Zara is sophisticated and on-trend for the season. The metal pearl embellishments also make it look chic and elevated.

Pleated Denim Mini Skirt

The pleats on this low-rise mini-skirt are too cute to pass on. The fabric also has a slight stretch and a raw hem.

Sizes Available: 23 - 33

Icon Frayed Denim Miniskirt

The light frayed seam details on this mini skirt give it a vintage look.

Sizes Available: 24- 32

Hidden Jeans

Raw Hem Denim Pencil Skirt

A midi skirt with a lived-in and soft stretched denim fabric will quickly become your everyday go-to.

By Brittany Romano

By Teen Vogue Editors

Funny one-liner #1970

My speech today will be like a mini-skirt. Long enough to cover the essentials but short enough to hold your attention!

Similar one liners

I found a message in a bottle. It said "You drink too much."

If I was addicted to masturbation, and then became addicted to sex, would it be safe to say that my addiction got out of hand?

I took my new car back to the dealers, complaining it only did left turns - "drive in the opposite direction then" he said.

A dad is washing the car with his son. After a moment, the son asks his father, "Do you think we could use a sponge instead?"

What did one saggy boob say to the other saggy boob if we don't get support people are going to think we're nuts.

Thanks for explaining the word "many" to me, it means a lot.

How does a network administrator nerd greet people who come to his house? Welcome to 127.0.0.1

Sorry I missed your call, I was busy seeing how many times my phone would ring before you gave up.

What do you call a horse who expresses negative views? A Naysayer.

Spreading rumors? At least you're spreading something else besides your legs.

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Britney spears goes naked, a** up in new nsfw video, britney spears 'hello to my a**' in suns up, buns up vid.

Britney Spears ' latest nude moment is seriously NSFW ... as she has put all of her assets on display for all to see.

The singer took to Instagram Wednesday evening, uploading a video of herself rolling around some crystal blue water ... totally nude. At one point, Brit lifts her butt into the air ... making the video even more suggestive.

The Grammy winner deliberately drew attention to her naked bee-hind, captioning her upload ... "Hello to my ass!!"

She chose the caption after previously writing on the post ... "Raised my ass a little higher so I have more booty!!! Thinking of getting injections on my ass to make it fuller like that."

We reached out to Meta to see if the post violates any guidelines. As of now, just like her ass, it's still up in the air.

Of course, this upload is just the latest in a string of concerning posts ... including a recent one where Brit railed about her relationship with her parents .

As TMZ previously reported ... Britney's mental and financial health is of deep concern for those in her orbit, especially after her physical altercation with her BF at the Chateau Marmont.

While some are calling for a new conservatorship , Dr. Drew says it's practically impossible to force the singer to get help.

Alarm bells are still ringing, regardless.

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Fashion Chatter

Did Cate Blanchett Make a Pro-Palestinian Fashion Statement at Cannes?

The actress hasn’t said so, but some internet users think she did. Plus, a bleak week for small brands and wedding dresses for fashion-forward brides.

• Share full article

By Elizabeth Paton

In the Fashion Chatter column, Elizabeth Paton reports industry news bites and offers bits of analysis.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, followers of events known for being fashion spectacles — the Oscars , the Met Gala , Eurovision — have watched them become venues for making sartorial as well as political statements about the conflict.

The Cannes Festival in France has not been immune to this trend. Several attendees have used the red carpet on the Croisette to show their support for Israelis or Palestinians during the film festival, with some wearing sashes saying “bring them home,” referring to Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, and others wearing red pins calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Off the carpet, the model Bella Hadid ate ice cream near the beach in Cannes wearing a dress made of the material used for kaffiyehs , the scarves long seen as a symbol of Palestinians solidarity and identity.

But those obvious displays have not generated as much buzz as the dress that the actress Cate Blanchett wore on Monday to the premiere of “ The Apprentice ,” a docudrama about the early life of former President Donald J. Trump.

At first glance the gown — a piece from the designer Haider Ackermann’s one-off spring 2023 couture collection for Jean Paul Gaultier — looked like a simple black dress worn with a pearl necklace across the length of Ms. Blanchett’s bare shoulders.

But as she began to walk the carpet, flashes of other colors emerged: The back of the dress was a pink so pale that it appeared white, and the gown had an emerald green interior lining that Ms. Blanchett repeatedly revealed by lifting its train. The dress had been significantly altered since it appeared on the runway , where it had a knee-length hemline, a lime-green back and a lavender lining.

As photos of the actress spread online, some interpreted her wearing that palette on a red carpet as a tribute to the black, green, white and red Palestinian flag.

Photos of Ms. Blanchett in the dress posted on Instagram by her stylist and her makeup artist received dozens of comments with emojis of the Palestinian flag or a watermelon, a symbol used to show support for Palestinians partly because the fruit has a similar color scheme as the flag.

Ms. Blanchett, who does not have her own social media accounts, has not publicly commented on the dress. Representatives for the actress did not respond to requests for comment for this article; neither did her stylist, Mr. Ackerman, or representatives for Jean Paul Gaultier.

But Ms. Blanchett’s making such a statement would not be totally inconceivable. In November the actress, who is a good-will ambassador of the United Nations’ refugee agency, called for a cease-fire in Gaza while addressing the European Parliament . She also signed a petition circulated in Hollywood demanding President Biden to push for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Then again, the dress was technically pink, black and green; without the red carpet beneath it, the garment alone bears little resemblance to the flag. So people could also be projecting the role of activist onto the actress.

One certainty of the speculation about Ms. Blanchett’s dress: A picture says a thousand words.

Three Independent Designers Give Up Their Labels

Those who have been glued to the red carpets in Cannes may have missed a string of more somber developments that occurred in the fashion industry as the film festival got underway.

On May 13, the day before Cannes began, the designer Roksanda Ilincic in London announced that she was selling the independent namesake label she founded in 2005 to The Brand Group, a company specializing in brand management and development, in order to avert bankruptcy.

On Sunday, the designer Mara Hoffman announced in Vogue that she was shuttering her namesake label 24 years after she started it in New York and months after Ms. Hoffman received an environmental sustainability award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

And on Tuesday came the news that The Vampire’s Wife , a British brand whose gothic, retro-glam dresses have earned fans in Florence Welch, Sienna Miller, Sarah Jessica Parker and Catherine, Princess of Wales, was closing after eight years in business.

The challenging wholesale environment — created largely by the collapse of e-commerce retailers like MatchesFashion and the aggressive buying tactics of others — was referenced by both Ms. Ilincic and Susie Cave, the founder of the Vampire’s Wife, in statements each released about the sale and the shuttering of their respective brands.

Rising costs of labor and materials have also made it harder and harder to compete, especially for independent designers, like Ms. Hoffman, trying to produce clothes more sustainably .

As she told Vogue, “If we’re going to have brands like Mara Hoffman that are using everything they can to make some sort of transformation, there have to be different support systems built for it.”

For Brides Who See the Aisle as a Runway

If any trend has guided bridal wear in recent years, it might be the move away from the big white confection that has traditionally been worn as a wedding dress. White pants and jumpsuits have become popular, as have bridal bikinis , bright pops of color and even panty-revealing gowns.

Brides-to-be for whom conventional dresses hold little appeal are exactly the type that Ssense — the website beloved by an achingly hip crowd for its selection of emerging designers and street wear — is targeting with a new bridal collection released this month. Comprising pieces from 17 brands, it includes bridal gloves, hats and other accessories, starting at about $170, and attire that starts at about $500.

Among the clothes are exclusive looks adapted from the recent runway collections of several designers, including a Simone Rocha dress with pink silk roses stuffed in sheer pockets and a matching extra-long hair bow, a cream knit Molly Goddard crop top and full skirt with an accompanying tulle veil, and a powder-pink Sandy Liang mini dress.

In other words: plenty of fashion-forward options in which one could say, “I do.”

Elizabeth Paton reports on the global fashion industry for The Times, a topic she has covered for more than a decade. She is based in London. More about Elizabeth Paton