Image via NEUN Magazine
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Historically, fashion and trends have been indicators of a country’s current economic and social state. During World War I, people who wore more extravagant clothing that required more fabric were seen as not contributing enough to rationing for the war effort because they were wearing the fabric that could have been used in the war. Then again, during the 1960s wave of the feminist movement, shorter skirts became much more popular and presented as an act of defiance. Then, most notably, during prohibition in the 1920s, young people, specifically flappers, opted for shorter dresses and more flashy accessories, once again symbolizing defiance. However, for the past year and a half or so, instead of fashion trends exemplifying resistance and nonconformity, they are showing a lean towards conservatism and conformity, and could even be an indicator of an economic recession.
In the past two years, runway fashion and general trends have put forth clothes that indicate economic downturns and a more socially conservative shift. One is the “hemline index.” The hemline index is a theory that suggests length changes in the hemlines of skirts correlate with current economic conditions. The lengthening of skirts signifies a more solemn mood, in parallel with the more freeing nature of a shorter skirt. An example of this shift would be from the 1920s to the Great Depression. As previously mentioned, women started wearing shorter dresses in the 1920s because there was large financial growth, and people were very optimistic and more carefree. But when the Depression hit, skirt lengths grew, reflecting the dull mood where people began to view everything in a more practical light.
It is not just clothes that reflect the country’s economic state, but beauty trends as well. The “Clean Girl” and “Old Money” aesthetics are prime examples. The Clean Girl aesthetic originated on TikTok in 2021 and priotizes having clear, shiny skin, wearing makeup that makes it look like you’re not wearing makeup, glossy lips, smooth and sleek hair, gold jewelry, and organization. While on the surface this trend may promote wellness, underneath it bleeds with ideas of conformity. The trend highlights traits associated with traditional femininity, which contributes to old, historical norms about women. While the trend promotes general wellness and sleekness, its aspects also correlate with outdated societal norms towards women. It is also a look that projects and requires a certain level of wealth. The rise of more traditional feminine roles and idealizing wealth go hand in hand with times of conformity and conservatism.
The “Old Money” aesthetic also signifies a shift towards conservatism. It idealizes luxury, timelessness, modesty, and an overall sense of being “classy.” While similar to the Clean Girl aesthetic in that it seems harmless, it is also rooted in classist ideals. It sets standards of wealth that most people cannot easily attain and reinforces class hierarchy—in the sense that it is cooler to be uber-wealthy, and that it is the best way to live. Idealizing and prioritizing wealth and what it symbolizes is a very conservative, and dated, way of thinking.
These fashion and social media trends have been floating around for the past year and a half to two years. When trend forecasters started predicting a shift towards conservatism, it was still a theory. That theory is now very much a reality. Data has shown that there has been a significant conservative shift among young voters. In the 2020 election, the youth vote was 25 points up for Biden over Trump, but only 4 points up for Kamala over Trump in the 2024 election. The fashion trends the youth have been participating in reflect the social and political shift among the demographic, and people in the fashion community saw it coming before anyone else.
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This article was edited by Sofia Roshan Hope Gellada.
Thomas Tisdale 
David Tomanelli 
Sinhawe Haji