Fashion Advice to BYU Women Goes to Lengths

It all started with a seemingly harmless concession to modern fashion two years ago, when straight-laced Brigham Young University decided to allow knee-length shorts.

Now it’s possible to catch a glimpse of thigh on the Mormon campus and students are being warned the rising hemlines on shorts and skirts must subside.

“You can find some girls whose shorts are much too short,” said President Rex E. Lee. He later asked that his remark be amended to include male students as well.

Lee said violators aren’t expelled nor is their tuition raised if their hemlines aren’t lowered. But they may lose other privileges.

A sign at the Harold B. Lee Library stated that, beginning Oct. 1, it would “only serve those students who abide by the honor code.”

Other encouragement comes from a poster showing young men and women in knee-length shorts standing around a red sports car. The caption says, “Don’t sell yourself short.” The license plate on the car reads: “2ZNEEZ.”

Students are encouraged to confront violators and, if necessary, turn them in to the Honor Code Council for counseling.

All but about 5% of BYU’s 27,000 students are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and all must sign the honor code promising to uphold the basic tenets of the Mormon faith and abstain from tobacco, alcohol, drugs, premarital sex, tea and coffee.

A pamphlet for new students says revealing clothing is prohibited and that shorts and skirts should be “knee-length or lower.” Men may not sport long hair or beards.

The 1990 change in the dress code allowed both women and men to wear knee-length shorts. Previously, women could wear slacks or skirts and men were required to wear trousers.

The school’s pioneer namesake has even had tonsorial treatment on campus. While the most popular photographs of Brigham Young show him with long hair and a grand beard, his statue by the administration building depicts him as clean-shaven and neatly trimmed.

On a recent afternoon, perhaps a dozen students among hundreds bustling around the campus commons wore shorts or skirts that ranged from just above the knee to midthigh--modest by most standards but not BYU’s.

Christy Rawls, 18, hiding her bare legs under a stack of books and folded sweater, giggled and blushed when asked about the mid-thigh hemline of her Bermuda shorts.

“I just knew I shouldn’t have worn these shorts,” Rawls said.

She conceded that exposing too much thigh can lead to awkward encounters.

“It’s kind of embarrassing to have a guy walk up to you and tell you your shorts are too short,” she said.

While most students seem to support and comply with the dress code, some say the school might be indulging in a double standard. Recent letters to the editor in the student newspaper questioned the propriety of the short skirts worn by BYU cheerleaders--given the dress code for other students.

Jean Taylor, honor code assistant to the dean of student life, said the moral climate is what sets the school apart from most other colleges.

“It’s so refreshing to see women who aren’t flaunting their bodies,” she said.

Three female students sitting outside the campus center--all in pants--said the chaste climate is the reason they attend BYU.

“Nobody’s trying to cut into your freedoms,” said Gina Clark, an 18-year-old freshman. “They’re teaching us a lifestyle.”