hemline

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hemline" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in fashion contexts to refer to the length of a garment, particularly skirts or dresses, at the bottom edge. Example: "The designer showcased a stunning collection featuring varying hemlines, from mini to maxi."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I can't recommend wearing an apron over a dress unless you're a waitress, but most people can do a wafty skirt or a top with an unusual hemline.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Last year, the hemline of shorts began to rise above the knee and flirt with the male "private parts": immediately anti-men's shorts sentiments exploded across the internet debating whether men should wear short-shorts, or even shorts at all.

The Guardian - Opinion

Of course, breast implants are more expensive, but Mr Pyott speculates that in today's sub-prime economy, it may pay more than ever to maintain an untroubled face, while bodily improvements lower down are being postponed to a later date.This echoes the old "hemline index", which George Taylor, an economist, invented in 1926.

The Economist

At first it was a long dress, but the hemline gradually rose.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In Egyptian and some Mesopotamian statues can be seen the same renderings of parallel, slanting, and radiating folds and ridges, as well as the archlike hemline that allows the feet to protrude.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The skirt hemline rose steadily to become, at its shortest in the years 1925 27, knee-length.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The bias cut of material, a mode introduced in the 1920s by the French couturiere Madeleine Vionnet, was widely adopted in the 1930s and was very effective with the longer skirts, creating a figure-hugging style which then flared out at the hemline.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Starting at the knee, the hemline over time crept upward to the upper thigh, a style that had only been made feasible by the introduction of nylon tights (panty hose in the United States).

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is almost a century since the US economist George Taylor came up with the revolutionary "hemline index" - the idea that when the economy is good, women's skirts get shorter, and when times are hard hemlines fall.

Independent

Mike: Not sure about that big knot around her jacket hemline.

Independent

As a result, it has been suggested Greggs could be a better economic indicator than some more established measures such as the hemline index (based on the observation hemlines get shorter in boom times).

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing fashion trends or historical styles, use "hemline" to refer specifically to the lower edge of skirts, dresses, or coats. Be precise about whether you mean the actual edge or the height of that edge from the floor.

Common error

Avoid using "hemline" to refer to the edges of other clothing items like sleeves or pants. "Hemline" specifically denotes the lower edge of skirts, dresses, and coats.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hemline" is as a noun, referring to the edge or bottom border of a garment, particularly a skirt or dress. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts describing fashion trends, historical styles, or garment construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "hemline" correctly refers to the finished edge at the bottom of a garment, primarily skirts, dresses, and coats. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The term is most frequently encountered in news and media, as well as encyclopedic contexts, where it describes fashion trends, historical styles, and garment construction. While variations in length can be indicated through alternatives like "skirt length" or "dress length", it's important to note that "hemline" is specific to the lower edge of these garments and shouldn't be applied to sleeves or pants. Understanding its specific meaning is essential for clear communication in fashion-related discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

skirt length

Focuses specifically on the length of a skirt's bottom edge.

dress length

Focuses specifically on the length of a dress's bottom edge.

garment's edge

A more general term referring to the finished lower border of any piece of clothing.

bottom of the skirt

Descriptive and specific to skirts.

bottom of the dress

Descriptive and specific to dresses.

skirt's bottom edge

Emphasizes the specific part of the skirt.

edge of the garment

A broader term referring to any garment's lower border.

lower border of the skirt

More formal and descriptive.

lower edge of the dress

More formal and descriptive, specific to dresses.

dress's bottom

Informal reference to the lower extremity of a dress.

FAQs

How is "hemline" used in fashion?

In fashion, "hemline" refers to the style or trend related to the length of skirts or dresses. It can describe whether the current fashion favors shorter or longer lengths. It is used in similar contexts as "skirt length" or "dress length".

What factors influence changes in the "hemline" of fashion?

Changes in the "hemline" can be influenced by economic conditions, social trends, and designers' choices. Historically, shorter hemlines have been associated with economic prosperity, a theory called the "hemline index".

What's the difference between "hemline" and "seam"?

A "hemline" is the finished edge of a garment, specifically the bottom edge of items like skirts and dresses. A "seam", on the other hand, is where two pieces of fabric are joined together by sewing.

How to describe different "hemline" lengths?

Common "hemline" lengths include mini, midi, and maxi. Mini ends significantly above the knee, midi falls around mid-calf, and maxi reaches the ankle or floor. Another way of referring to this concept is "skirt length".