What exactly is immodest dressing? A list

Dear girls,

The first thing people see when they meet us for the first time is our face and then a quick glance of our outfit. A picture paints a thousand words. It’s why what you wear is important despite many today saying that appearance doesn’t matter. Furthermore, the code of modesty has watered down a lot over the decades and centuries, are we more sensible now? Is modesty cultural and is it okay to accept the changing dress norms and the years go by? And what really are immodest pieces of clothing?

Have our standards of modesty gone downhill?

If we look at fashion styles over the past 2000 years, minus the past 50, I think we would conclude that they were dressed modestly to a T. There was no room for allowing the female body to be a stumbling block to others. Even the idea of seeing a woman’s ankles would be too much for the male gaze. Think Grecian peplos to the Victorian ball gown dresses. The women were covered up.

A Black victorian young woman - What is immodest clothing?

The standards of modesty were high and I’ve talked about what measures were taken at public places such as the beach to enforce it in a previous post. Of course each era had it issues even in the matters of clothing so we cannot look at the past with rose coloured glasses, but for the most part they did not dress immodestly.

Before you leave the house checklist

The below is a helpful checklist and reminder for myself as well to ensure that what you wear is modest before leaving the house. Especially prayer! Oh how I can forget to pray about even the most trivial matters but when I do I’m so pleasantly surprised at God’s answers to my prayers!

Am I comfortable?
Are any of my private parts revealed?
Do I have to keep adjusting my dress? (This is a big one especially as a mother!)
Am I dressing in way that may cause others to lust over me?*
Have I prayed about what I’m going to wear that day?

*It is true that even when dressed modestly, people can still lust over you but that’s their issue to deal with. However, we have a duty on our part not to dress immodestly either.

What clothes are considered immodest?

If I was going to train young girls in the matter of dress, this is what I would advise them not to wear. A well dressed girl who dresses decently is always admired and favoured more than the one dressed immodestly. I hope that the below list of what is considered immodest clothing will be a helpful guide to you. At the end of the day you have to make the decision, but if ever in doubt seek the Lord’s guidance on what is most appropriate to wear in public.

Crop tops

Anything that is revealing your midsection is immodest. Although today it is very trendy for young girls and women to reveal their midriff in public, it still is not right. I watched a bit of a superhero tv show aimed at young people over 14 years old and I was shocked at the indecency present throughout the show. There was constant profanity (s word), girls showing their midriff, as well as having a lot of piercings, buzz cut hairstyles, tattoos and crossdressing. If we’re not careful our children will watch such cult shows and be brainwashed into the evil ideals of today’s society.

Low cut tops & Dresses

A piece of clothing that exposes any part of the bosom is in appropriate. The cleavage is a sexual part of the body and can attract unwanted attention from others when really they should be looking at your eyes. Ever seen the memes of men with google eyes look at a woman’s exposed cleavage? Please don’t let that be you girls.

Tight fitted clothing

Up until the 1970s, for all of history the great majority of women wore loose fitting clothing that would not expose the anatomy of their body. Wearing yoga pants, bodycon dress, and the like may not be appropriate especially if you have big assets. Leaving a lot to the imagination is better than allowing your body to be imprinted in the mind of weak men. If you want to wear yoga pants, why not wear a cute tennis skirt on top? Innocence and proprietary needs to make a comeback in society and seeing the curve and shape of one’s buttocks is immodest.

Ripped Clothing

Unless you’re playing dress up as a zombie, I don’t think wearing ripped clothing is modest nor decent. The culture of today can be so tempting yet at the same time quite deceitful. Who would have thought that wearing ripped clothing would be a trend? In the past, ripped clothing was associated with being either unkept or poor. Is such a trend damping our consciousness towards those that are truly poor indeed? Is it making jest of such a situation? There are so many better alternatives, let’s not gravitate to styles that are distasteful and tacky.

what is immodest dressing — The description of this painting describes the woman’s petticoat as being “tattered”. We have to be weary of the devil’s devices, he seeks to ruin as many people as he can.

Bare legs

I love summertime. I love it when the sun is beaming, the butterflies are everywhere and my mood is at an all year high. But one thing I do not look forward to during this season is the amount of immodest dressing from both men and women in public. Many young girls and women see this time as a licence to show off their “summer body”. The dress code: boobs, legs and bum. Girls wear the shortest shorts they can find and flaunt their legs off for all to see. The terrible thing is that many girls will also wear such clothing to places obviously designed for children to play at. It’s so sad and pollutes the minds of these innocently minded young girls and boys.

Conclusion

Girls, the bible says that a good name is better than gold or silver. Please don’t let your mode of dressing ruin your reputation. You may be the kindest and most sweetest girl, but don’t be naive to think that your appearance does not matter! You are a reflection of your parents, you are a reflection of your husband – Strive to be the best ambassador for decency and for God who made you in his image. If you dress with all your skin out, are you truly seeking just attention from your husband or are you seeking all eyes on your body from others as well? We should check our hearts when deciding to wear certain clothing; it’s so easy to be untuned to bad habits but we must be careful and watchful.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Proverbs 31:1

A Challenge

Here’s a challenge for you girls – If you are that young girl or woman who is dressing immodestly, then I challenge you for a week to put on something everyday for the whole day that is modest and doesn’t fall under the list above. So whether you are going to school, to work, to church, or doing shopping; wherever you’re going, do not dress immodestly and you’ll be surprised at the difference. I remember when after I got saved, my style of dressing changed – I wore more dresses and modest clothing and the reception I received was really surprising. I desire for you to be that girl that other young girls and women look up to. I want you to be that girl who is praised not only for her acts but also for her outward adorning. Both has to be intact.

Dressing is partly a heart matter, how you dress is a reflection of your heart and ultimately it’s the Lord Jesus Christ that can completely change your desire. I pray that if you have not yet asked the Lord to save you that you will open your heart to him in all sincerity and repentance so that your life will be fruitful and your place will be secured in the new heaven and earth!

Lots of love,

Maryrose