My Standards of Modesty

Disclaimer: Please read all of the following introduction before you jump to the list of modesty rules! I don't want anyone to think I'm dictating how they should dress!

Last time I discussed why God’s girls should be concerned about modesty. Now I’m going to be getting into the practical side of things: how in the world do you dress well, look cute, and still stay modest? And where in the world are you supposed to buy shorts that are longer than two inches?

Today, I’d like to talk about some general tips about what is modest and what isn't. Sometimes, however, this can be very personal territory. There are some things that are obvious, but others aren't so obvious, and it really takes a personal choice to decide what you define as modest. Some people will want to make sure their entire legs or arms are covered. Others just want to wear clothes that keep their chest from spilling out of their shirt and their thighs from being inadvertently exposed.

But, I know that some of you probably want an actual, definitive list of rules for what is and isn't modest. And if you don’t, ignore this post. All of you are perfectly capable of defining your modesty rules for yourselves.

And now, for those of you with no idea where to start or who just want some ideas to get their juices flowing, here is my personal list of rules I typically follow.

• Shorts should not be shorter than the length of your fingertips when your arms are straight at your sides. If you prefer them longer, that’s always fine. Some of my best clothing finds have been shorts that you can roll up as short or as long as you want.
• Skirts and dresses should come at least halfway to the knee, and personally I don’t feel comfortable in anything shorter than three quarters to the knee. This is also a matter of personal preference, as long as it isn't an ultra-short miniskirt.
• Necklines on tops and dresses should go no lower than a hand-width below your collarbone. This should be pretty universal—anything lower than that starts to get seriously immodest. If you prefer that shirts come to your collarbones at all times, that is also a personal choice.

Obviously the rules can be tweaked and adjusted based on what you feel comfortable with. And if you prefer to ignore these altogether and create your own rules from scratch, please do so!

      Next Steps: Make a list—yes, actually write it down—of your personal modesty rules for clothes. Then go through your closet and try on each thing. Check if it follows your rules. If it doesn’t, toss it. Sometimes it can be nice to enlist the help of your mom, an older sister, or a good Christian friend. 

     What do you think? Do you agree with my modesty rules? Is there anything you would add/change? Do you already dress this way, or has this inspired you to take a second look at your wardrobe?