My first cargo skirt was a pink satin mini with velcro side pockets and streamer-like straps that hung off u-shaped rings in four different places. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The cargo pant, which started trending in the mid-to-late 90s in women's fashion, as an offshoot of carpenter pants and military workwear, swiftly became the relaxed pant of the moment thanks to 90s style icons like Jennifer Aniston and TLC. Like every other polarising trend of the 90s and noughties, by 2010 the cargo pant was a ghost of bad fashion choices past, until they were coaxed back into the mainstream appearing on runways as early as 2019.
The cargo pant never left us, not really. As is the case with most trends that are born out of necessity such as workwear. They may be absent from the runway for a few seasons but just because celebrities aren't photographed in them, doesn't mean they're not in play elsewhere for their intended use. The same can't exactly be said for the cargo skirt, however. Funnily enough, it happens to occupy this space where functionality meets sheer impracticality. No one would dare send you to war in a cargo skirt, unless we're talking Rihanna's Navy.
View this post on Instagram
They were the it skirt of Destiny's Child in their Survivor era, the red carpet look du jour of every teeny-bopper celebrity, and while the few years of the cargo skirts nylon knee-swooping popularity lived on in our memories as a fond, yet cringey moment for all, very few expected to be welcoming it back just yet.
View this post on Instagram
We should have seen it coming when Miuccia Prada debuted a line of black nylon cargo skirts for Prada FW 2019 menswear show. It seems so obvious in hindsight. Now, more and more designers are producing their own interpretations of the nostalgic silhouette like Sacai, Stella McCartney, Dion Lee, Ms Prada's other offshoot Miu Miu and more, which leaves us with only one more thing to ask; are you ready for the cargo skirts return?
View this post on Instagram
Shop our favourite styles, below.
NEEDLES Green String Fatique Skirt
PRADA Technical Canvas Skirt
BEAMS BOY Cargo Skirt
ICE STUDIOS Cargo Skirt
WARDROBE NYC Cargo Pocket Ripstop Cotton Midi Skirt
LEH 935 Parachute Patchwork Skirt
COPERNI Cargo Maxi Skirt
AMOMENTO Padded Balloon Skirt
MARC JACOBS The Cargo Skirt
DIESEL Cargo Zip Up Long Skirt
Image: @dress4unot4them; pinterest
