Is it just ME?

Or is the return of the mini skirt utterly horrifying?

FASHION had been going so well for midlife women. We’ve had several years of so-called modesty dressing — fabulous long skirts, hippy-de-luxe embroidered smocks (no worries about a bit of tummy) and elegant dresses — all a godsend for anyone over 50.

But now — horror — mini skirts are back, and not just for teenagers, who have always worn them. No, for us 40 and 50-somethings too. Witness M&S, of all the midlife- friendly, mainstream places, reporting a huge increase in sales this season.

Mini skirts! Do we really, really want to go down that route? Again?

Of course, in the Nineties, the first time around (for me), it was fine. I remember wearing such a small red tweed mini to work that the head of personnel at my publishing house

Minis at my age are never flattering — your dignity is constantly at risk

commented she liked my skirt, but it was a pity I couldn’t afford more of it.

I remember with great fondness a very small silver Jigsaw mini skirt, worn in my late 20s to sweaty Menorcan night clubs.

But mini skirts at my age are never flattering. One’s dignity is constantly at risk. Do I honestly want to get into a squat position to avoid exposing most of my lower body to the world should I need to reach for the baked beans in the supermarket?

No, I will leave the latest wave of mini-skirt enthusiasm to gorgeous youth (for whom it was invented as an act of rebellion by the likes of Mary Quant).

I feel smug I wore them to death the first time around, but now I will breathe a sigh of relief, salivate over designs from brilliant Cos and Toast (both of whom nail that quirkily cut, ‘I’m a little bit interesting’ vibe) and hunt out a midi instead.