While Wall Street is telling people that it's onward and upward from here, the Hemline Index, a theory which states that the length of women's skirts and dresses tends to rise and fall with stock prices, looks to be saying otherwise.
As BuzzFeed notes in "Spring Fashion Trends Find An Unlikely Customer: Orthodox Women," conservativism and modesty, including skirts and dresses that stretch to the floor, are the new black:
Jewish Orthodox women follow three core rules of modesty, or tznius: a garment’s neckline should extend to the collarbone; shirt sleeves should cover the elbows; and skirts must cover the knees. Pants are strictly forbidden, and married women must also cover their heads with a wig, scarf or hat.
While many Orthodox women shop in specialty stores that cater specifically to these guidelines, over the past couple of seasons, they’ve found it much easier to shop for appropriately conservative looks in mainstream chains like Zara and H&M. That’s because tznius is now hip — and Jewish Orthodox women are becoming more fashionable than ever.
"It's amazing how much fashion is shifting,” says Adi Heyman, an Orthodox stylist living in Manhattan, who is starting a blog about conservative fashion. "These days it's easy to dress modestly and be on-trend." Button-up blouses, long-sleeved denim shirts, flowy vintage dresses and pleated maxi skirts are among the items you’ll find in any Zara or Forever 21 right now that Orthodox women are stocking up on this season, she says.
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