...that the "hottest" girls are ironically the ones that need the most reassurance that they're pretty and are always calling themselves "fat" and "ugly".

But a good lesson to any girl is:

If you dress like a slut, don't be surprised when guys treat you like a slut.

Rather than opine about what you wish to be true, would it not be more informative and professional to write about what is true?

I mean, they're making a claim that the less modest clothing correlates with these other issues (self esteem, eating disorder, yadda yadda). Is that a verifiable claim? Correlation does not imply causality. What other factors might be ultimately behind both?

Does the "can suffer when" language used in the article imply a causality that is not there in the actual study? Did you read the actual study?

Whether you personally think it's dangerous to report a fact or not is so irrelevant as to be laughable. Why not instead, if something doesn't sit right with you, investigate and find out what the actual claim is and if it is supportable?

I guess that is the difference between blogging and journalism in a nutshell right there. A blogger need only feel.

-m

So wait, how exactly does a recession inspire people to go out and buy a new wardrobe?

has yards and yards and yards of extra material. You got the t shirt and Ravens jersey down to the floor. You got the do rag and two hats. You got the dip jeans in 52 XXXXXXXXXXXXL. I bet the average G-Thug is lugging 20lbs of textiles around.

Never understand me hemline hypothesis. Who measures hemline and what hemline is measure? If measure outside Catholic school near where Svutlana live, guarantee me, economy always be in boom.

Hopeful economist who also measure GDP do hemline measure on side, so result have journalistic credibility.

I suppose the idea is that, in times of recession, people feel worse in general, which makes them feel worse about themselves, so they don't want to show themselves so much or to wear something risqué. That is to say: If I'm sad about the plight of the economy (and the consequences for myself personally), then I don't want to look like I'm on the hunt for happiness. I'm too depressed.

Maybe. I certainly pick different clothes when I'm happy and when I'm sad.

I'm also curious about this Pure Fashion study tracing low self-esteem to sexy clothing. I tend to agree with Ms Berman--it shouldn't be always the case, people can want to look sexy for reasons other than dissatisfaction with themselves. I'd like to have a look at this study too. Maybe I'll try to google it.

It looks like there are fewer strapless/spaghetti strap tops and we are getting more long sleeves. Just look at Project Runway.

According to your rival "Slate," one of the hottest trends in fashion nowadays is the return of the covered or partially-covered arm to women's wear, especially formal and special-occasion wear.

A return to modesty, the whim of fashion, or simply an acknowledgement that a lot of us don't have upper arms worth exposing unless the climate demands it?

Who cares? It's a trend I, for one, welcome.

Perhaps it will hasten the return of some sanity (as well as modesty) to the wedding industry, which has for way too long convinced brides that the sausage-casing-bodice-with-bouffant-skirt look is attractive to ladies with more than A-cup torsos.

Maybe your mom was being a "slut" when she gave it up to your dad.

Kufir,

If she looks like a slut, guys will treat her like a slut, as opposed to uh ... a "good girl" deserving of respect?

And she's a slut because she 1) Isn't covered from head to toe?

2) Enjoys sex?

Guess if that's the definition then the guy's a "slut" too.

In addition to "Gossip Girl", I offer up "Mad Men" as an influence on the new, modest styles. Michael Kors has stated that he based his new collection on the show.

"I also think it's dangerous to imply that young women who wear miniskirts are automatically on the road..."

Then perhaps you shouldn't directly state it! The quote cited that they CAN result. Like smoking CAN cause cancer, not like every person who smokes is headed to an early grave. The American Psychological Association is hardly some fringe conservative group intending to put women back in their place. I would propose that this study merits unbiased consideration, and that the unrestrained expression of sexuality is not without the possibility of negative consequences.

Surely the author can't subscribe the the notion that the treatment young women recieve is independent of their behavior and how they dress? I'd also point out that the study didn't imply that boys were the cause of this - the negative self-image could easily be from treatment received from other girls. This would be consistent with how things worked at my high-school at least.

No, my mom and dad were married, so nope, not being a slut. And really, "your mom" jokes? Are you serious?

Well, we obviously know what you dress like. Don't worry, I'm sure guys will like without your tits hanging out. You have such a sparkling personality.

Actually Kufir, Katie's got a point (not about your mother, the other point) women and girls should be able to dress the way they are most comfortable without society devaluing them.

ie: I shouldn't need to wear a burka or a minishirt to be treated like a person of worth. I, you, we all, are people of worth- why not treat other people kindly based on the fact that they are human and deserving of respect, instead of judging them harshly on which clothing they choose.

Well thats what great about America, you can do as you please, for the most part. But you also need to understand the way men's brains are wired. Why you do you think streetwalkers dress like they do? Why would would emulate that?

Dress like you want, but don't be surprised when guys can't see past your tits.