CultureSeptember 4, 2026

hemline

HEM-line

Definition

The lowest edge of a garment, such as a skirt, dress, or coat, that determines its length.

Etymology

The word is a compound of 'hem' (the border of a piece of cloth) and 'line,' tracing back to Old English and Germanic roots referring to a border or edge.

In the news

The article uses hemline to illustrate how fashion trends are trivializing body types, comparing changing body standards to the minor adjustment of where a garment's edge falls.

GLP-1 drugs could reshape fashion and body culture

Read the full article ↗

News-Medical

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