The Hemline Index, presented by American economist
George Taylor in 1926, suggests that the hemlines on women's
skirts and dresses rise and fall with the rise and fall of the
economy. Under this theory, the popularity of short hemlines
coincides with a booming economy, but in bad times, long skirts and
dresses show the modesty that bad economic times seem to require.
However, assorted 2009 fashion weeks did not really reflect staying
power of this economic theory. Only a few top luxury brands had
ankle-length skirts in their fashion lines. This lack of modesty in
the face of the recent recession probably has more to do with the
fact that the clothes were designed one season before the weight of
the recession had come to bear. Yet, even with fashion not
reflecting the angst of the economy, people are seriously concerned
about how the world will face this economic
downturn.1
