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MENTAL MODEL · M3794

Hemline Index

Hemline Index
BehaviorHigh supportSocial Psychology
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

An informal economic indicator that posits an inverse relationship between women's skirt length and economic prosperity. When the economy is good, skirts become shorter (reflecting confidence and flamboyance); when the economy is bad, skirts become longer (reflecting conservatism and cheaper fabrics).

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Social sentiment indicator. Although not rigorous, it reminds us to pay attention to the hidden connection between popular aesthetics and the macroeconomic environment. Fashion trends are often not random but rather projections of social psychology onto economic expectations.

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Anchor fast decisions

The Hemline Index (proposed by Taylor) jokingly suggests that skirt lengths vary with economic conditions: when the economy is good, hemlines rise.

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Source support: Explicit

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    zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A3%99%E8%A5%AC%E6%8C%87%E6%95%B8ZH · Explicit
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