According to the hemline index theory, skirt hems rise and fall with the stock market. In boom times miniskirts prevail, reflecting the flirty party mood. When stocks are down, hemlines fall to the ankle, reflecting concerns that beget conservatism and the need to be demure.
At Melbourne Fashion festival this week, hemlines off and on the runway were floor and ankle length. Perhaps reflecting the times – a cost of living crisis, without a recession – the outfits were far from prim and proper. Instead, the mood was defiant, optimistic sartorial chaos. The skirts may have been long, but some were also transparent.
