Skin is NO longer "IN"

30 November -0001

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Skin is no longer in, say the trend-spotters. Not even for teens and 20-somethings.

Miniskirts, skimpy tops and those embarrassing, thong-baring jeans are on the way out. They are being replaced by high-waist pants, (Simon Cowell) long-sleeve tunics and knee-grazing skirts. The latest fashion watchword is modesty.

In a single season, fashion has flipped from cheesy to cutesy. Fashion experts suggest a number of reasons for the about-face, some welcome it; others view it with suspicion. But all agree it is happening everywhere and for everyone from teens on up. The first reason that comes to mind is the most obvious, the fashion pendulum, fashion is constantly swinging from one extreme to the other: mini to maxi, fitted leggings to baggy pants, bare to covered-up.

Think of Madonna, she has gone from Gautier bustiers to chiffon dresses and floral frocks. There is the current backlash against showing too much skin, particularly in America you only have to look at the outcry against Janet Jackson’s nipple flash during the Super Bowl halftime show, people have had enough. This is even evident with pop stars starting to scale back, look at Christina Aguilara how she has changed her image recently.

The rebellion against revealing fashions has been unusually virulent in recent months, the more cynical will put it down to the fashion industry promoting change to spark off a buying frenzy, after all every under thirty has a pair of low rise jeans and a wardrobe full of crop tops so why would they dash out and buy another pair. We have seen recently marketers targeting even the littlest girls with such clothing and messages obviously in the belief that by getting converts early enough they can influence their spending for life.

On the other side how many parents have found themselves having to explain to pre teens why certain clothing suggests certain things to certain people or why certain styles are trashy or as someone quoted how do you describe “hooker chic” to an eight-year-old.

Teenagers who a few months ago emulated the styles worn by pop idols such as Jennifer Lopez now are discarding these looks, adopting new role models Jamelia, Alicia Silverstone. The modesty trends are also tied to the political climate, there is a saying that hem lines rise with expectations, but with threats from terrorism, the economy and rising interest rates these issues are on people’s minds, serious issues that call for serious clothes

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