Does modesty matter? 3 tips to start dressing modestly
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
Proverbs 31:30 NIV
Ever since we were little we have been sold this idea that dressing modestly is boring and not at all stylish.
I must accept that when I became a Christian my vision of modesty was very limited by my own ignorance and other people’s religiosity. As I have grown in my faith, I have realized that dressing modestly did not come to take away freedoms in my life, but to add much to my value as a woman.
Before we begin we must understand that the way we dress really matters, it matters as much to the world as it does to God. The way you dress is a letter of introduction to who you are, what your character is like, and what really matters to you.
This is true whether you want to accept it or not. As humans, we constantly make judgments from our first impressions. I know you could easily tell the difference between someone who works in the financial sector and someone who works as a personal trainer just by looking at the way they dress.
When you show off a part of your figure that part of you gets all of the attention. When you dress modestly, people will only have the option to assess your outfit and therefore what their perception is regarding you as a whole. Having clarified this, we can move on to the next point.
What does the Bible say about dressing modestly?
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV
The Bible is not going to give you a list of approved or disapproved attire. God in his great love gives us the freedom to decide what to wear or not. However, the Bible is clear on the following points:
- You must examine the intentions of your heart. What motivates you to wear that outfit? Do you want to draw other people’s attention to specific parts of your body?
- You must glorify God. Is what you wear congruent with what you live and preach? Does it show what you want others to know about you?
The Bible clearly states that we should focus primarily on our character, our temperament, and our virtues. This is not to say that the way we dress is not important, but it should not be the most important thing in our lives. Our focus as women should be to become virtuous women honoring God in every area of our lives.
How to start dressing modestly?
Finally, I want to share with you some dress codes that I have been learning and that has helped me not only to dress appropriately but also influenced in how I project myself to the world (especially at work).
- Dress according to your body type. Some people look better than others in different styles. For example, I have thick legs, so any garment that looks short looks very different on me than it does on my slim-legged friends. So what looks good and appropriate on them doesn’t exactly look the same on me. Know what looks good on your body.
- Avoid clothes that are see-through, too tight, or don’t make you feel comfortable. In case you need to, wear a blouse underneath or an item that is loose-fitting to contrast with your fitted item.
- Follow modest fashion Instagram or Pinterest accounts. Remember that these platforms have a lot of influence on us, use that to your advantage. Find some great ideas and slowly create your own style. Be classy and have fun.
