One of the more wacky adaptations were miniskirt shorts in the 1970s – shorts with a miniskirt stitched into the back. Also during this decade, the mini was lengthened into the trendy Midi and Maxi styles. A group of lorry drivers was so upset at the demise of the miniskirt that they staged protests, which were shown on national TV!

But they needn't have worried – it was back with a vengeance in the 1980s. Even the most conservative designers raised hemlines well above the knee and women of all ages responded, including Madonna, when she wore a body-hugging version paired with lace tights and ankle boots. Also in the mid-1980s, fashion queen Vivienne Westwood put her own spin on the miniskirt. Called the mini-crini, it combined a tutu with an abbreviated form of the Victorian crinoline. It managed to look both sexy and stylish, but stayed mainly on the catwalk.

The 1990s saw the miniskirt achieve mass appeal once again. Working girl TV characters played by Heather Locklear and Calista Flockhart on Melrose Place and Ally McBeal wore scandalously short skirts, with matching suit jackets, to the office.

In the past, the miniskirt was seen as novel, and almost risky. Now it's more of a statement – it means you're either following fashion or are a trendsetter.

When it comes to leading the way in fashion, Kate Moss is at the cutting-edge. The summer of 2005 saw the model sporting a modern-day cousin of the miniskirt – micro shorts. She famously paired the tiny shorts with wellies at Glastonbury Festival, prompting a craze that was perhaps unwisely followed!

Just as the miniskirt was controversial when first worn, the idea of men wearing skirts also pushes boundaries. Top fashion designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen have tried to present skirts as an alternative to conventional menswear.

They have been helped by several high-profile celebs wearing the garment – remember the front-page coverage David Beckham received when he was photographed in a Jean Paul Gaultier sarong!