On campus, trends move fast. As styles swing between expressive and restrained, are these changes about more than just fashion. Could the nation’s political climate be quietly influencing how women dress?
Throughout American history, fashion has often mirrored the political mood of the moment. From the bold colors and miniskirts of John F. Kennedy’s progressive 1960s, to the muted tones and preppy styles of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan’s conservative eras, American clothing has historically reflected our cultural shifts. Even recently, modest, classic looks have resurfaced alongside a more traditional political climate.
Across the country, the current political atmosphere leans toward more conservative and traditional ideals, with leaders emphasizing modesty, conventional gender roles, and “classic femininity.” On campus, that tone seems to be showing up in what students wear. Longer hemlines, tailored silhouettes, and neutral color palettes have become increasingly common, echoing the understated elegance associated with traditional values.
KU students Abby Assaad, Callie Williams and Abby Bleish walk across campus in May, wearing long maxi dresses, reflecting a growing preference for modest, flowing styles.
“I’ve always viewed Swanson’s as a more traditional boutique,” KU student Charlotte McNealy said. McNealy works at Swanson’s on Massachusetts Street. “But over the past year, I’ve definitely noticed more young students coming in and buying longer skirts and midi dresses.”
Economists once proposed what’s called the Hemline Index—the idea that skirt lengths rise and fall with the economy. When times feel optimistic or liberal, hemlines go up; when society feels cautious or conservative, they fall. It’s a theory that has resurfaced for nearly a century, and while many stylists now consider it too simplistic, it does highlight how clothing can reflect cultural shifts.
At KU, campus style seems to echo today’s broader social tensions. Some students gravitate toward longer, more modest looks; others are embracing micro-minis, sheer fabrics, and gender-fluid pieces as statements of defiance.
“I definitely think that some conservatives want to limit the type of things that women can wear,” President of the Fashion Business Organization (FBO) Jack Berry said. Berry is a model who has worked in Kansas City and St. Louis fashion weeks. “Sometimes religion can play a role too– with those hemlines becoming longer–but I think it’s kind of a double-edged sword. This generation also wants to rebel and go against the codes that have been deemed on us.”
That mix of rebellion and restraint has become a defining feature of fashion on campus. Some students see modest dressing as an expression of faith or personal comfort. Others see boldness as empowerment. Berry believes both are valid.
“I don’t assume people’s political ideology from what they wear,” he said. “But I do think sometimes what people wear tells me what they stand for.”
KU student Lillie Myers describes her views on what women should wear is shaped more by personal faith than by political identity.
“I think my opinion on what’s appropriate for women in college to wear is slightly different than what people might assume based on my political or religious views,” Myers said. “I’m Christian and conservative, but I don’t think that automatically means strict rules around modesty. Everyone interprets that differently.”
For Myers, modesty is about discernment, not dress codes.
“Christians have a personal relationship with God and based on their experiences they’ll feel convicted to show that relationship in different ways,” she said. “I personally don’t feel convicted against wearing certain cropped clothes that others may deem immodest, and that’s okay.”
Gigi Snellback is a senior at the University of Kansas from Lake Forest, Illinois, studying Multimedia Journalism.