Short school skirts are passé. Following the release of the hit music video featuring pop singer Britney Spears in a micro-mini school skirt, hemlines of school skirts crept up to what many consider to be improper levels. This caused the Scottish Parent Teacher Council to clamp down heavily on retail stores selling miniscule school skirts and subsequently, the sale of school skirts decreased. In 2002, Woolworth's, which sells 10 per cent of the school wear in Scotland, sold 200,000 school skirts and just 4,000 pairs of girls' trousers. But this year, the store has sold 104,000 pairs of trousers and 100,000 skirts.

For those who continue to wear school skirts but prefer a more conservative style, Modest Apparel USA is working on a reticent skirt for school uniforms. This school skirt is double pleated, and has a back zipper; side inseam pockets, and covers the knee when sitting.

The trend, however, is gradually shifting away from solid-colored cotton skirts. Plaid miniskirts teamed with knitted sweaters continue to be popular this fall. An attention-grabbing trend emerging in the University of Missouri are patterned skirts, which allow students to express their individuality. A number of students are making a fashion statement in knee-length denim skirts paired with traditional tank tops and trendy cowboy boots. While details like double belts are being spotted everywhere, the more creative students have gone to the lengths of accessorizing a neat pleated denim skirt with a colorful scarf belted around their waist.

That said, traditional pleated skirts continue to be a perennial school style. Different looks may be presented by wearing a pleated skirt, depending on the length of the skirt. Below-the-knee skirts give a more graceful and conservative look while shorter skirts teamed with sneakers are more flirty and girlish.