While the spring/summer 2026 runways were practically overflowing with trends, no doubt a result of the 15 (!!) creative director debuts seen at some of the biggest fashion houses in the industry, one thing seemed to be unanimous – this season, it's all about statement skirts. From dramatically tasselled asymmetric hemlines at Alaïa, feather-trimmed floor-sweepers from Matthieu Blazy at Chanel, to voluminous bubble-esque sheer creations courtesy of Giambattista Valli, your jeans are set to firmly take a backseat as we head into April.
Admittedly, the aforementioned designs aren't exactly wearable for day-to-day, but the designer collections certainly serve to provide endless inspiration. To translate couture creations to the everyday, try focusing on a single element, be it silhouette, colour, adornments, or pattern. When it comes to the latter, you can't go wrong with checked prints.
Spotted at the likes of Brandon Maxwell, Ermanno Scervino, Emilia Wickstead, Dior, Chanel and more, for SS26, checks have a lighter, brighter feel compared to the black-backed iterations that have dominated in autumn and winter the past few years.
The high street has delivered its own interpretation of the trend with an abundance of check midi skirts currently available to shop. The key to nailing the look is to opt for floaty styles, either classic slip skirts or A-line shapes, perhaps with gathered pleating details. Stick to lightweight fabrics, ideal for seeing you through the warm-weather months as well as delivering plenty of swish with every step.
The perfect partner to boxy t-shirts and oversized jumpers, check midi skirts are inherently cool. Simply throw one on and it instantly elevates a spring outfit, so you look and feel like you've made an effort, without really having to do much at all. Of course, should you want to dress things up a little, it's just as easy an ensemble. Opt for a blouse and kitten heels, and you're good to go.
Marks & Spencer's checked chiffon midi A-line skirt is currently top of our wishlist, ticking off all of the aforementioned requirements for nailing the trend, and in a seasonally suitable, pretty green colourway. Not to mention it's affordable £40 price tag!
Shop some of our favourite check midi skirts below:
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Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
