The Minneapolis Star of 1937 ran a continuing feature called “The Inquiring Reporter” — man- and woman-in-the-street interviews on a variety of topics. The feature ran alongside local news on an inside page, just below the Cedric Adams column. Mug shots of each respondent anchored the feature.

It has been rumored that women’s skirts are going back to the short style of the late twenties. What do you think of that?

MARCEL CHOUINARD, 2607 Thomas avenue N., window dresser – Well, personally I don’t think the skirts should be above the knees. Dress above the knees give a more childish appearance than the ones worn now. It doesn’t help women in walking to have short skirts. It’s just a fad. It just seems to be a matter of what the style happens to be at the moment. Some women shouldn’t wear short dresses at all.

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CATHERINE HERMANN, 3628 Pleasant avenue, stenographer – I wouldn’t want short skirts back for anything in the world. I think skirts are just about right the way they’re wearing them this spring. If I want a good laugh, all I have to do is look at a picture of myself in short skirts taken in about 1927. Being short myself, I think that wearing a skirt that is rather long makes a person look taller.

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REESE CARY, 5724 Twenty-third avenue S., radio service man — Skirts should be left where they are. Long skirts make girls look more grown up. They make them more attractive, more graceful and more woman-like. I suppose short skirts must be a little less expensive because less material is used. Short dresses make women look childish. Just look at the pictures taken during the twenties. They look terrible.

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BORGNY JENSEN, 3129 Longfellow avenue, saleslady – I think short skirts are terrible. The long ones are more graceful and don’t show up so many bad points. A lot of women can’t wear short skirts. You have more freedom of movement with long skirts. With short ones you have to be careful all the time, especially if you’re modest. For a girl of average height the right length is about 12 inches from the floor. I hope short dresses never come back.

Hemlines of varying heights were on display at the 1937 State Fair. (Photo courtesy mnhs.org)

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