Today’s Modesty Monday topic is a little “test” you can do to see if an outfit is modest.

Obviously, there are a lot of areas where people’s standards will differ with regards to what is modest – just how long a sleeve, just how low a neckline, etc.

But I like this little guideline because it is so basic.

I have seen such a test in seveal modesty resources – most recently in this terrific little book:

Think of the children’s rhyme

Head
and Shoulders
Knees
and Toes

So now, stand in front of a mirror and…

Put you hands on your HEAD

Does your waist show (front or back)?

Put your hands on your SHOULDERS

Check that your shoulders are covered, and your neckline is not too low.

Look at your KNEES

They should be covered.

Okay, now put your hands on your KNEES

Can you see down the front of your top to your undergarmets, chest, or even *gasp* your belly button? Yikes!

Bend over and touch your TOES

Does your back show?

Pretty good, eh?

Here’s another couple of quick-checks that I think would save women a lot of (presumably) inadvertant immodesty.

• Press your shirt to your breastbone (in the center of your chest). If it springs back out like a tramploine when you let go, it is too tight.
• Button-down shirt? Put your hands at your waist and spread your elbows back like “chicken wings.” Stand sideways and see if you can see into your shirt because it is creating big gaps between the buttons.

I’ll save my further thoughts on guidelines for modest apparel for another day. I think these are pretty universal, while we will soonbe moving into the disputed territories…

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