I'm really hoping to find a great denim skirt this spring. I love the versatility of denim skirts, and in fact have bought several over the years - but I have never really loved any of them because they weren't "perfect" in terms of fit. So I'm willing to invest some time into the quest for the perfect denim skirt this year (and even some money if the best one is a bit pricier than what I have paid in the past.)

I'll be looking for one that's either pencil or A-line, with an above-the-knee length. I'm flexible in terms of the wash; not too light, though, since I don't want it to be super casual. Looking for a versatile skirt that I can dress up or down, nothing so trendy that it would look dated a year later but I'd prefer it if it had some interesting styling or details (though I'll also consider a very basic pencil or A-line one if it fits well.) My questions:

When is the best time to shop for denim skirts? I gather it might be a tad early right now (e.g. I asked at the Gap a couple weeks ago and they didn't even know when they'd get some in.) But I also don't want to miss the best selection. So when do they tend to hit the stores?

And do you have tips for where to shop? Stores I've shopped at (for denim skirts) in the past include Gap, Express, Levis, J Crew. Where else should I look?