Whoever first took a pair of scissors to a perfectly good skirt and decided the leg deserved an exit deserves our thanks. Unfortunately, history hasn’t left us a name to put on the card. Regardless of who it might be, their contribution lives on every time fabric parts mid-stride.
They’re not like other skirts, so call the slit a pick-me if you must. Cutting into an otherwise continuous length of fabric immediately creates more movement. That vertical break also draws the eye along the leg for an elongating effect that becomes more dramatic as the opening travels up the thigh.
Then comes the timing. A slit doesn’t stay put for long, allowing the garment to shift with the body from one step to the next. One enthusiastic stride might even test the limits of fashion tape, which is reason enough to give some thought to what goes underneath.
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Once you’ve decided to show some leg, however, you’ll understand why it’s so much fun.
Photos: ELIE SAAB and HERMÈS
COMME MOI: Show directed by CHRISTINE LOW of ACTIVATION GROUP, PR and communications by BAO YIFENG of ACTIVATION PR & COMMUNICATION, sound design by TUTU CHAN of SONCERTO STUDIO, styled by TUOMAS LAITINEN, runway photography by MERA CHAN of PINPIN STUDIO, videography by JUNYI PRODUCTION, makeup by MAC COSMETICS, hair by L’ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL
AZ MARTINEZ: Photographed by JHARWIN CASTANEDA, styled by PERRY TABORA, assisted by KRIS DELEON, makeup by CARISSA CIELO MEDVED, hair by MARK IBARROLA
MICHELLE DEE: Photographed by MIKE GELLA, produced by PERSONIFI.IO, styled by JETRHO BARRIETTA, STYLIZED STUDIO, PERSONIFI.IO, and __SVMMYYY__, makeup by DAVE QUIAMBAO, hair by NELBERT SEBOY
Frequently Asked Questions
Slits create more movement and an elongating effect on the leg, with the vertical break becoming more dramatic as the opening travels higher. The trend appeared across S/S26 and F/W26 collections from houses like Elie Saab, Hermès, and Comme Moi.
Slit designs appeared in Elie Saab’s S/S26 collection, Hermès’ F/W26 collection, and Comme Moi’s S/S26 show, reflecting the trend’s presence across multiple fashion capitals and seasons.
Both AZ Martinez and Michelle Dee wore Anthony Ramirez designs featuring slits, with AZ Martinez also pairing her look with BVLGARI jewelry.
Since a slit shifts and opens further with movement, it’s worth planning what goes underneath, with fashion tape commonly used to manage how much the fabric parts during an enthusiastic stride.
Yes. The trend applies across silhouettes — slits appeared on both skirts and dresses in 2026 collections, with the placement and height of the cut determining how dramatic the movement and leg-lengthening effect looks.
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