This '90s Denim Trend Is Coming Back, and Katie Holmes Can't Stop Wearing It

Denim skirts are sneaky vintage. Everyone likely has one in the depths of their closet, but the truth is wearing one automatically makes you look like you're doing a retro Tumblr cosplay of Alexa Chung. At least that's how I feel every time I wear one — and that's definitely not a bad thing. 

There was a denim skirt I bought with buttons all the way down the front from Topshop that made me feel just like Chung — one of my all-time favorite style icons — years ago. While I've recently purged so many items in my wardrobe, I haven't been able to let this piece go, even though I rarely ever think to wear it. I'm just more likely to wear a tennis skirt or a thrited printed slip. But Katie Holmes, Rihanna, and even Beyonce have recently made the case for bringing the denim skirt back for 2021 in a big way. 

Denim skirts are obviously a more summer-friendly alternative to jeans. And while hard denim pants can feel constraining, denim skirts often leave a lot more room to breathe and less cause to sweat. Win-win! Holmes was seen in a classic '90s fit while wearing hers by A.P.C. with a white t-shirt, Givenchy bag, and Gucci loafers. While the outfit was worth thousands, the denim skirt gave it a casual vibe and even reminded me of the one I fell in love with all those years ago. 

Rihanna also utilized a denim skirt to downplay an otherwise extremely extravagant outfit. She wore a ripped denim mini with a $790 Celine shirt and a pair of $1,020 Amina Muaddi heels while grocery shopping. And while Rihanna can grocery shop in a gown and we wouldn't question it, her denim mini really did make this look a vibe. 

If you needed any more proof that a denim skirt is just as 2021 as the most Gen Z of trends, even the queen herself Beyonce wore one on Instagram in March. The look spoke for itself and needed zero caption, but it made us highly consider getting a matching denim jacket for all of our denim skirts this summer. And while Beyonce's skirt was by Alessandra Rich and cost $500, most denim skirts are under $50 — especially on Amazon. 

There also isn't a shoe that doesn't look good with a denim skirt, as demonstrated by the three aforementioned style icons. You can wear loafers. You can wear strap-up platform sandals. You can even wear pumps. And if you're leaning into the summer of ″ugly″ sandals, a denim skirt looks great with those too.

Shop the celeb-approved summer trend below.