04/09/2019 Skirt Length Theory

Skirt Length (Hemline) Theory

REVIEWED BY ADAM HAYES Updated Aug 9, 2019

What Is Skirt Length (Hemline) Theory

The skirt length theory is a superstitious idea that skirt lengths are a predictor of stock
market direction. According to the theory, if short skirts are growing in popularity, it means
the markets are going to go up. If longer skirt lengths are gaining traction in the fashion
world, it means the markets are heading down. The skirt length theory is also called the
hemline indicator or the "bare knees, bull market" theory.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/skirtlengththeory.asp 1/4
04/09/2019 Skirt Length Theory

Understanding the Skirt Length Theory

The idea behind skirt length theory is that shorter skirts tend to appear in times when
general consumer confidence and excitement is high, meaning the markets are bullish. In
contrast, the theory says long skirts are worn more in times of fear and general gloom,
indicating that things are bearish.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/skirtlengththeory.asp 2/4
04/09/2019 Skirt Length Theory

First suggested in 1925 by George Taylor of the Wharton School of Business, the Hemline
Index proposes that skirt hemlines are higher when the economy is performing better. For
instance, short skirts were in vogue in the 1990’s when the tech bubble was increasing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
The skirt length theory proposes that skirt hemlines are higher when the economy
is performing better, and longer during downturns.
To its merit, the hemline indicator was accurate in 1987, when designers switched
from miniskirts to floor-length skirts just before the market crashed. A similar
change also took place in 1929,
Very few, however, trust the validity of the theory as an accurate predictor of
markets and it is considered market lore.

The Case for Skirt Length Theory

Although investors may secretly believe in such a theory, most serious analysts and
investors prefer market fundamentals and economic data to hemlines. The case for skirt
length theory is really based on two points in history. In the 1920s - AKA the Roaring
Twenties - the economic strength of the U.S. led to a period of sustained growth in
personal wealth for most of the population. This, in turn, led to new ventures in all areas,
including entertainment and fashion. Fashions that would have been socially scandalous
a decade before, such as skirts that ended above the knees, were all the rage. Then
came the Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression, which saw new fashions dwindle and
die in favor of the cheaper and plainer fashions that preceded them.

Skirt length theory is a fun theory to talk about, but it would be impractical and
dangerous to invest according to it.

This pattern seemingly repeated in the 1980s when mini-skirts were popularized along
with the millionaire boom that accompanied Reaganomics. The pendulum of fashion
swung back to longer skirts in the late 80s, roughly coinciding with the stock market crash
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/skirtlengththeory.asp 3/4
04/09/2019 Skirt Length Theory

of 1987. However, the timing of these incidents, let alone the strength of the potential
correlation, is questionable. Although there may be a defendable thesis around periods of
sustained economic growth leading to bolder fashion choices, it is not a practical
investment thesis to work with. Even benchmarking skirt length in North American would
be a challenging undertaking. The time spent auditing clothing outlets to establish the
length of top selling skirts would take more time than it is worth considering that it is far
from proven as to whether the hemline indicator is leading or lagging.

Other Unconventional Economic Indicators

The Men’s Underwear Index is just one of a host of unconventional economic indicators
which have been proposed since the advent of market tracking.

Some other Unconventional Economic Indicators that have been promoted include:

Mens' underwear: The Men’s Underwear Index is an unconventional economic indicator,

long favored by former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, which purports to measure how
well the economy is doing based on the sales of men’s underwear. This measure
suggests that declines in the sales of men’s underwear indicate a poor overall state of
the economy, while upswings in underwear sales predict an improving economy.
Haircuts: Paul Mitchell founder John Paul Dejoria suggests that during good economic
times, customers will visit salons for haircuts every six weeks, while in bad times haircut
frequencies drop to every eight weeks.
Dry-cleaning: Another favorite Greenspan theory, this indicator suggests that dry cleaning
drops during bad economic times, as people only take clothes to the cleaners when
they absolutely need to when budgets are tight.
Fast food: Many analysts believe that during financial downturns, consumers are far more
likely to purchase cheaper fast food options, while when the economy heads into an
upswing, patrons are more likely to focus more on buying healthier food and eating in
nicer restaurants.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/skirtlengththeory.asp 4/4