As one of Jehovah's Witnesses, dressing modestly is a big part of my life. But defining modesty can vary from one person to another. A lot of this is because the Bible doesn't provide a set of do's and dont's for dressing but offers principles that we must apply as our conscience sees fit.
In the book, Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education*, it explains "the Bible exhorts us to cultivate modesty and soundness of mind. The apostle Paul urged Christian women to “adorn themselves . . . with modesty and soundness of mind, not with styles of hair braiding and gold or pearls or very expensive garb, but in the way that befits women professing to reverence God.” (1 Tim. 2:9, 10) Modesty and soundness of mind are also important in the dress and grooming of men.
"A person who is modest is concerned about not needlessly offending others and not drawing undue attention to himself. Soundness of mind results in discretion, or good judgment. The person who displays these qualities has balance that results from respect for godly standards. Manifesting these qualities does not rule out dressing in an attractive manner but helps us to be sensible in our appearance and to avoid extravagant styles of dress and grooming. (1 John 2:16) We want to apply these principles whether we are at a place of worship, sharing in the field ministry, or engaging in other activities. Even our casual dress should reflect modesty and soundness of mind. At school or on our secular job, there will be opportunities to do informal witnessing. While we may not be dressed in the same manner as when attending meetings, conventions, and assemblies, our dress should still be neat, clean, and modest.
"Of course, we do not all dress alike. We are not expected to. People have different tastes, and this is quite proper. But Bible guidelines should always be applied.
"The apostle Peter showed that even more important than hairstyles and outer garments is apparel associated with “the secret person of the heart.” (1 Pet. 3:3, 4) When our hearts are filled with love, joy, peace, kindness, and faith that is solidly based, these will become to us spiritual garments that truly honor God."
In curating styles for this blog, I will be looking for pieces that meet the following qualifications:
- Skirts come to the knee or below (even when sitting)
- Shorts are bermuda length or longer
- Nothing is overly tight
- No cleavage
- Transparent materials are lined or layered
- Nothing strapless or spaghetti strapped without a recommended shoulder coverage (I personally am ok with sleeve-less options as long as there's at least a 2" strap)
- No high slits
- No midriffs
In keeping with maintaing a modest lifestyle. I will be shooting to keep each piece below $30 since I never spend more than that on my own clothing.
What is modest fashion to you?
*published by Jehovah's Witnesses
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