I can’t seem to escape denim midi skirts (well, maxi skirts too). 

Whether it’s paparazzi photos of celebs, fashion girlies on TikTok, or email marketing from my fave brands, everywhere I look it’s “Denim Skirts for Spring.”

I was skeptical about a denim skirt working in my wardrobe until I saw it styled up in what’s being called the Coastal Cowgirl aesthetic. Think Coastal Grandmother (my personal fave), but with a little more denim and a touch of cowgirl boots.

Now that seems exciting.

And I could use a little exciting in my closet.

Denim Midi Skirts Are Trending: 6 Ways To Wear Them In Spring & Summer

Longer denim skirts seem to have become the IT item for spring and summer nearly overnight.

I was able to get my hands on the Pistola Alice Midi Skirt at Saks — which was entirely sold out by the time it arrived at my doorstep (but you can scoop it up right now at Nordstrom, or preorder from Revolve, too). 

Luckily, brands across the board seem to be working hard at releasing new versions of this trending jean-skirt style, but warning: Each one sells out faster than the last.

Shop Denim Midi & Maxi Skirts

Coastal Cowgirl Vibes: 6 Spring & Summer Outfit Ideas Ft. A Denim Midi Skirt

Even though adding cowgirl boots to a denim skirt is an amazing outfit, I needed to make sure I could get more wear out of the Pistola Alice Midi Skirt than just this one look. So, off I went to destroy my closet to see if the denim-midi-skirt trend could really stand the test of time in my own personal wardrobe, or if it was just a one-hit wonder.

1. A Denim Midi Skirt With Cowgirl Boots & A Knit Top

skirt | top | boots

There are a wide variety of longer denim skirts to choose from, but personally, I love the options with an exaggerated split hem. This style feels a little more sexy and playful, not to mention a lot easier to move in.

Taking my best plunge into Coastal Cowgirl, I immediately wanted to wear this denim midi skirt with my Tecovas boots and a beachy-feeling top. The boots give the obvious cowgirl affect, a mainstay in this aesthetic; while a lightweight, open-knit top brings in the coastal element. There’s a fine line without a surfboard under my arm, though, because Coastal Cowgirl can end up feeling, well, simply just *cowgirl*.

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2. A Denim Midi Skirt With Flip-Flops & A Tank Top

skirt | tank | sandals | belt (similar) | bag (similar)

Wanting to see if I could make the skirt feel even more coastal, I swapped my boots for my comfiest sandals and grabbed a beach bag.

I love how put-together this outfit makes me feel while still being extremely simple. It’s the kind of combo that could work for brunch, vacation and hot summer date nights, but I would just as easily throw on my swimsuit underneath and head to the beach.

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3. A Denim Midi Skirt With A Jean Jacket & Sneakers

skirt | bodysuit | similar jacket | sneakers | bag

I’m a big fan of the denim-on-denim pairings these days, especially when the jacket is swingy and oversized. I was happily surprised to find my old Gap jacket a near-identical wash to the Pistola midi skirt, but any great jacket would work here (this one from Free People looks amazing).

Cowgirl boots would be a fun pairing, but it felt a little too yee-haw for my personal style, so I opted for a pair of minimal adidas Samba sneakers and loved how it came together!

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4. A Denim Midi Skirt With Ballet Flats & An Oversized Graphic Tee

skirt | tee | belt (similar) | flats

I made a failed attempt at styling the skirt with an oversized button down (one of my most-worn kinds of tops), and I originally thought it was because an oversized top was too much for a skirt with so much fabric. But when I threw on this oversized graphic tee, I figured out that a dramatic-size top just needed to be tucked or tied up in a way so as not to overwhelm my frame.

My favorite ballet flats from Camper were a happy match to the denim midi. They add to the femininity of wearing a skirt while still being casual (i.e., not a heel) and balanced out the graphic tee.

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5. A Denim Midi Skirt With Cowgirl Boots & A Sweater

skirt | sweater | belt (similar) | boots

When I realized most of the outfits I’m trying on were for decently warmer weather, I had to figure out if I could wear the denim midi skirt with a sweater (spring can still be chilly, after all). I reached for my most-worn and favorite knit sweater from Jenni Kayne, and I’m obsessed with how it looks with my Tecovas boots.

Cropped sweaters (and tops in general) are an easy pairing to a high-waisted skirt, but a simple half-tuck and a cute belt really do make a longer, cozier sweater look great too!

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6. A Denim Midi Skirt With Platform Loafers & A Bomber Jacket

skirt | bodysuit | similar jacket | similar loafers

This outfit came together more unexpectedly edgy than I going for, but I wanted to see if platform loafers and a bomber jacket — two of my fave wardrobe items this year — could work with a denim skirt.

The socks and loafers were an easy yes for me (I think they could make even a sweatsuit look cool), and the bomber jacket was also a pleasantly fun pairing; although I’m not sure I would always reach for a faux-leather version to pair with the skirt. Perhaps a bomber that’s a little less heavy and a little silkier would be easier to wear (oooh, or even a structured bomber like this).

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Back to top

The fact that the denim midi skirt works well with sneakers, boots, ballet flats, flip-flops and loafers is a pretty hard sell for me. I originally worried this trending item would be a bit too trendy, but it seemed to go further in my wardrobe than I could’ve ever expected.

What are your thoughts on the midi + maxi denim skirts for spring and summer?

Xx,
Amy

Let’s be friends on Instagram! Sharing life from a California beach town, daily style & beauty faves, and never-ending Gilmore Girl binge-athons — all with a good dose of adorable toddler content too.