What is the Hemline Theory telling us about stock markets?
Posted on Sunday, June 1st, 2008 | In Current Market News, Stocks to Watch
Contributed by: Prieur du Plessis (http://www.investmentpostcards.com) -
The length of women’s skirts tells you the way the market is going to go, according to the so-called “hemline theory”.
In the ‘20s and ‘60s hemlines were at a high and so was the stock market. And in the ‘30s and ‘40s the stock market was so low that women were almost tripping on their skirts. The hemline theory was also on the ball in 1987. Miniskirts were all the rage, and the stock market was at a matching high. But then the market quickly crashed in October, right when designers such as Bill Blass decided that miniskirts looked ridiculous. Hemlines dropped and so did the market. Coincidence?

Right now the trend is supershort skirts and stiletto heels. Could this be telling us something about the market ahead?
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![]() About Prieur du Plessis (http://www.investmentpostcards.com)
Prieur du Plessis has 25 years’ experience in professional investment research and portfolio management. More than 1,000 of his articles on investment-related topics have been published in various regular newspaper, journal and Internet columns. He has also published a book, Financial Basics: Investment. Prieur is chief executive and principal shareholder of South African-based Plexus Asset Management, which he founded in 1995. The group conducts investment management, investment consulting, private equity and real estate activities in South Africa and other African countries. Plexus is the South African partner of John Mauldin, author of the Thoughts from the Frontline e-letter, and also has an exclusive licensing agreement with California-based Research Affiliates for managing and distributing its enhanced Fundamental IndexTM methodology in the Pan-African area. Prieur is 52 years old and lives with his wife, television producer and presenter Isabel Verwey, and two children in Cape Town, South Africa. His recreational activities include long-distance running, motor cycling, traveling and reading. |



