The nearly naked looks once favored by pop stars like Christina Aguilera and television shows like "Sex and the City" are giving way to more demure styles that feature far less skin, fashion executives say.
From the runways of Europe to the malls of America, shirts and skirts are getting longer and the waistband on jeans, which had been going south in a hurry, has begun to rise, these people said.
"People are tired of seeing so much skin," said Greg Scott, chief executive of Bebe, a 195-unit chain that is known for selling slinky tank tops and short skirts.
A year ago, Scott said, Bebe's best-selling styles were belly-baring tops and low-rise jeans. Today, he continued, Bebe stores are selling more tops that fall below the waist and knee-length skirts.
"That whole midriff-baring thing is completely over," Scott said.
Where last year's jeans may have had a 7-inch rise, today's jeans have an 8- or 9-inch rise, Scott said, referring to the length from the inseam to the waistband.
"This way," he continued, "when you sit down, you don't see everything."
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