Modest Starts at the Heart: Part 3

Now that we’ve talked about living a life of modesty from an inside out, it’s time for us to share a few tips on dressing modestly. We don’t mean that you have to wear long skirts and baggy shirts or like clothing that don’t show your curves, not at all! If you feel like that is the way God wants you to dress, please do. But I don’t believe that that is the only way a girl can dress modestly.

Also, we don’t want this post to be a list of rules, so I beg you, don’t look at it that way. These are just some standards that we encourage you to have. I read the whole Modesty Survey and tried to base my personal standards on that, I encourage you to do so as well but that is up to you. Please, this should come from your heart as something you choose to do. I’m choosing to dress modestly, I hope you are too.

Here are some tips and tests that we use when dressing. We encourage you to use them too!

When choosing shirts, look for:

1. A neckline that covers your chest.

2. Appropriate fit. (not too tight or short)

Try these tests: (they also work for dresses)

1. Stick your thumbs into your breastbone. Below what your hands cover, your shirt should cover.

Quick Fix: If your shirt does not cover this area, add a tanktop or cami with a higher neckline underneath and do the test again.

2. Bend forward facing a mirror. Can you see down half your shirt?

Quick Fix: Again, wearing a tanktop or cami underneath can really help this. But sometimes it’s impossible. For these cases I usually just make sure to put my hand on the top of my shirt when I bend over.

3. Stand up and turn around. Is the parts where your bra hooks together clearly visible? If so, your shirt is too tight.

Quick Fix: In this case, there is none. The shirt is too tight and must be thrown away.

4. Now bend over facing away from the mirror. Is there several inches of skin showing between the top of your pants and the bottom of your shirt?

Quick Fix: Tanktop or cami underneath can fix this problem. It is more helpful if tucked in.

5. For tank tops and spaghetti straps, if you can see your bra strap, it is immodest.

Quick Fix: Add a thicker-strapped tanktop underneath. A sweater or jacket over is also a cute and modest option.

When choosing pants, look for:

1. Appropriate fit.

2. Not too much skin showing.

Try these tests:

1. Okay, I really dread bringing this up, but it’s not attractive on plumbers or anyone else. Yes, you know what I mean now. Bend over back facing a mirror. Do you see the ever-dreaded crack?

Quick Fix: A belt? If it’s not an issue of too-loose pants, try wearing a longer shirt. If they’re low rise pants, the only thing you can do is wear a long shirt, and if you don’t like that, get rid of the pants.

2. Another problem would be too-tightness. If your pants are hugging your hips and/or butt too closely it can draw attention to those areas. Can you easily stick your hands in your pockets? How about putting your hand inside your pants between the front of your thigh and the front of your pants?

Quick Fix: There is no quick fix for this one. The pants are too small, they’ve got to go.

3. One thing that seems to be really fashionable these days is rips in the pants. When choosing the “distressed” look, make sure there are not rips in the thigh-ish area. Too much skin showing here can be a stumbling block for guys.

Quick Fix: If the hole is large enough to see skin more than a couple inches above the knee, wear a pair of leggings or spandex underneath. If the hole is really large and open, just toss the pants or use them for work pants. This is the point where they start to look junky.
When choosing skirts/dresses look for:
1. Appropriate length.
2. Nontransparent.
3. If there’s a slit, appropriate length of that.

Try these tests:

1. Stand up straight and drop your hands at your sides. Whatever your arms cover and about two inches below that should be covered.

Quick Fix: If the dress/skirt ends where your fingertips are or a little higher, add leggings underneath. If it’s a dress, you could also wear a pair of jeans under it. You could turn it into a pretty cute long shirt. If you don’t like either of these options or it is shorter than specified above, get rid of the dress/skirt. It is too short to wear alone.

2. Look in a mirror. Can you see your underwear through the dress/skirt?

Quick Fix: A slip is the best option here, but you may be able to use leggings or jeans.

3. If your dress/skirt has a slit, check the length of slit. It shouldn’t come above your knee - it isn’t modest if you appear to be covering plenty, but still show up high.

Quick Fix: If you’re handy with thread and needle, you could attempt to sew it up a little, but this can easily become a disaster. I would recommend just getting rid of it.

When  choosing shorts look for:

1. Appropriate length.

2. Appropriate fit.

Try these tests:

1. Use the first test for the dresses/skirts to determine whether or not your shorts are appropriate in length.

Quick Fix: If your shorts are too short, throw them away, there is no quick fix in this case.

2. The second test in the pants department also works here.

Quick Fix: Again, there is none for these poor shorts. Throw them away, they are too tight.