A few decades ago….. it was not strange to see women wear skirts that went to their ankles… Today….. you’ll find that skirts are getting shorter and shorter. And the question is….. why are skirts so short?
The answer is that the skirt length depends on the culture of the society in which women live… There is no single rule for what is considered a short skirt… It all boils down to individual preferences.
In many countries like Korea….. Japan….. and China….. the skirts are made with extra-short lengths… In these countries….. it is common to see school girls wearing skirts that barely cover their thighs… However….. in other countries like the United States and Canada….. a skirt below the knee is considered too short.
Why Are Skirts So Short?
To understand why skirts are so short today….. we have to look back at how women’s hemlines have changed over the centuries… In the 16th century….. it was considered scandalous for a woman to show her ankles… By the 18th century….. women were showing off their legs in silk stockings and heels… The 19th century saw women’s skirts rise up to their waists… In the 20th century….. they got shorter still.
The bottom line is that skirts are short because that’s how people want them right now… We don’t know if they’ll be short next year or if they’ll ever go out of style again but until then….. we can expect to see a lot more short skirts around!
Skirts remained at mid-calf to ankle until the 1920s….. when they began rising to just below the knee and gradually got shorter in the decades that followed… Low waistlines also emerged in this time period and continued into the 1960s.
Skirts became shortest in the late 1960s through early 1970s—reaching a high of 10 inches above the knee by 1968—and then began to rise again… The trend toward shorter hemlines continued from the 1970s through the 1990s and into 2000 when miniskirts were popular for a time… During those years….. hemline lengths ranged from about 8 inches above to 4 inches below the knee (with occasional dips below 4 inches).
Why Are School Girls Skirts Getting Shorter?
School uniforms are supposed to make it easier for students to get along… It’s impossible for teachers to tell who’s rich and who’s poor because everyone is dressed the same… And most importantly….. the school uniform is supposed to be a reminder that all of the students are equals.
But in recent years….. the school uniform has become a much more serious matter than just being able to study without distraction… High school girls around the world have been making their uniforms shorter and shorter.
The reason for this trend is simple… Girls want to be noticed by boys… The shorter a girl’s skirt….. the more attention she will get from guys… The more guys that notice her….. the higher her self-esteem will be… This is why many girls believe that they need a guy’s validation in order to feel good about themselves and their bodies.
Of course….. there is also the rebellious factor against parents and the ever-changing values of parents as well.
This problem has gotten so severe in some countries such as Korea….. that new laws are being introduced to regulate what girls can wear in school… In South Korea….. it was recently made illegal for high school girls to wear skirts that are above their knee in length.
This new law will hopefully help curb this growing trend of young girls wearing clothing that is so short that it may be considered too revealing or inappropriate for class or even work!
Why Is Korean School Skirt So Short?
The skirts worn by many Korean girls to school are so short the hems barely touch the tops of their thighs. Korean schoolgirls wear skirts that expose a lot of their upper legs….. which has become a social issue in Korea.
This is because Korean schools require girls to wear skirts during class as part of their uniforms… And if you look around you’ll notice that most girls do actually follow this dress code… Although there are some schools that allow female students to wear pants or shorts under their skirts….. these are usually private schools or academies which cater to students who come from affluent families.
The reason why the skirt is so short is that in Korea….. children and teenagers often look up to adults and want to be like them… Since Korean adults wear skirts that are very short….. it became a social norm for girls to wear short skirts too.
But some parents criticize this trend….. saying that schoolgirls wearing mini-skirts become a target for sexual assault and sexual harassment.
Another explanation for the Korean school skirt being very short is because the Korean kids do lots of sports in their schools… They are required to do physical activity for 1 hour every day… You can see the boys wearing trousers or shorts with a T-shirt….. but girls have to wear skirts all this time.
The Korean school uniform consists of several parts: a skirt….. a long-sleeved blouse….. shoes….. socks….. and a hat… The shoes must be closed-toe and closed-heel so that no one gets hurt during the games… It’s hot in Korea in the summer but even hotter inside your shoes… So wearing skirts in summer makes you feel cooler and more comfortable when you play games in school.
What Skirt Is Considered Short?
Skirts come in all lengths….. but there are some general rules about how long a skirt can be before it’s considered too short… The most important consideration is the occasion… A skirt that’s considered too short for office wear would be perfectly fine at a beach party….. for example.
- If you’re trying to decide whether a skirt is too short for you….. consider the following guidelines:
- When you bend over or sit down….. your bottom shouldn’t be exposed… If your panties show when you bend over or sit down….. then your skirt is too short.
- When you cross your legs….. your underwear should not be visible… If it is visible….. then the skirt is too short.
- When sitting down in a chair….. your underwear shouldn’t show through the bottom of your skirt.
The length of skirts has varied over time and depends on the current fashion trends… As late as the 1960s and 70s miniskirts were widely accepted and were even worn to work by some women in certain industries… However….. if you’re looking for more conservative style advice….. here are some general guidelines:
What Is an Appropriate Skirt Length?
Skirts can be a huge part of a girl’s wardrobe and they are one of the first things that get noticed… The length of a skirt can also have a huge effect on a woman’s body….. so it is important to know what length looks best and what length is too short.
Skirts come in all kinds of lengths….. some just above the knee or as long as floor length… Skirts that fall past the knee are standard for women in America….. and for good reason because this length flatters most women’s bodies… It is short enough to show off your legs but long enough not to look like you forgot to wear pants.
- Tight skirts should be avoided if you have thick thighs because they will accentuate them and make them appear larger.
- The same goes for large bellies if you have one….. as this will only draw more attention to it.
- Skirts should be avoided if you have larger calves because they will make them look like tree trunks.
- This also applies if you are very heavy in the rear end area….. so think twice before wearing a tight skirt with no underwear.
- If your thighs and bottom are very big….. avoid wearing pencil skirts altogether.
- If you have hips then you should avoid tight skirts….. especially when sitting down.
What Do You Do If Your Skirt Is Too Short?
If you want to know what do you do if your skirt is too short….. then I will have to say that it depends on how you feel about your style and personality.
If you feel comfortable wearing a longer skirt….. then there will be no problems at all….. but if you are looking forward to wearing something more fashionable….. then I would recommend you consider getting yourself a pair of high-rise pants or leggings that can make your outfit look more appealing.
After 5 Attire: Elevate Your Style
In summary, Your skirt hits at an appropriate length when it grazes the top of your knee… If you’re on the taller side….. that measurement will be slightly different… But for most women….. hitting (or skimming) your knees indicates that the skirt is too short and potentially inappropriate for a professional environment.
The most conservative hemline falls just below the knee… This style looks particularly great with boots and leggings in the fall….. winter….. and spring… It’s also a flattering style because it elongates the legs and makes you appear taller.
Knee-length skirts are trendy right now….. but they’re not appropriate in professional settings unless you pair them with opaque tights or a longer blouse or sweater… A knee-length skirt can sometimes work without tights if you have very long legs and/or are wearing loafers….. pumps….. or ankle boots.
If you’re rocking a mini skirt….. you can wear just about any shoe you want because it will cover up your feet (and all sins)… Just be careful that your hemline hits at an appropriate spot — often around mid-thigh — to avoid looking too risque for work.
You may also be interested in… Why Do Skirts Stick Out at the Back? (How To Tighten?) and How Do Skirts Work?
Louise Wilson is an accomplished author, passionate textile historian, and renowned fashion enthusiast with a rich background in the world of apparel.
Graduating with honors in Fashion Design, Louise further expanded her skills and knowledge by completing a master’s degree in Textile History. Her academic pursuits have led her to explore the fashion capitals of the world, including Milan, Paris, and New York, enriching her insights into the global world of fashion.
As an author, Louise’s passion for fashion has found its way into her writings, where she intricately weaves narratives of style, design, and fashion history.